Dear Northern Ireland Cancer Network - NICAN,

We are researching histology/ cellular pathology activity in NHS organisations and the use of locums and outsourcing to report these.

For the period April 1st to December 31st 2023, please provide the following information:

1. How many whole time equivalent histopathology consultants (as defined by being on the GMC specialist register for pathology) were employed by the authority at 31/12/2023.

2. How many histology cases were reported in the following period, overall and by the following sub-specialties
- dermatology
- gastro-intenstinal
- urology
- gynaecology
- breast
- thoracic
- head and neck
- other
- total cases reported

3. How many of the total cases given above were reported by
a. consultants (or other medical staff) employed by the authority during their contract Programmed Activities or PAs.
b. consultants employed by the authority, being paid additional amounts over and above their salary for additional work.
c. locum consultants working for the authority
d. external reporting companies. Please provide a total number of cases and the number reported by each of the following:
- Unilabs
- HCA Laboratories including their subsidiary Backlogs
- Source LD Path (previously Source Bioscience, and LD Path limited)
- Cellular Pathology Services Limited
- Diagnexia
- Digital Pathology Partners
- Cyted (including their subsidiary Pathognomics)
- Poundbury Cancer Institute
- Medica
- external reporting companies total

3. How much did the authority spend on each of the following during the period
a. consultants (or other medical staff) employed by the authority during their contract Programmed Activities or PAs. (salary plus NI plus pension contrbution)
b. consultants employed by the authority, being paid additional amounts over and above their salary for additional work.
c. locum consultants working for the authority
d. external reporting companies. Please provide a total spend and the spend with each of the following:
- Unilabs
- HCA Laboratories including their subsidiary Backlogs
- Source LD Path (previously Source Bioscience, and LD Path limited)
- Cellular Pathology Services Limited
- Diagnexia
- Digital Pathology Partners
- Cyted (including their subsidiary Pathognomics)
- Poundbury Cancer Institute
- Medica
- external reporting companies total

Yours faithfully,

Richard Brown

Dear Northern Ireland Cancer Network - NICAN,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Northern Ireland Cancer Network - NICAN's handling of my FOI request 'Histopathology services and outsourcing'.

Please respond - this is now long overdue

Yours faithfully,

Richard Brown