Spotlight on the Point of Care Testing team | News

Delivering around 10,000 patient results daily and supporting around three million results each year, the Point of Care Testing (POCT) team plays a vital role in ensuring patients receive safe, timely and effective care across Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW).

POCT is diagnostic testing done at or near the patient rather than in a central laboratory. From glucose meters that monitor blood sugar levels to blood gas analysers used in areas such as Intensive Care and Maternity, the POCT team oversees a range of equipment allowing diagnostic tests to be performed quickly and safely.

Around three million point of care tests take place across the Trust each year, helping clinicians diagnose, monitor and treat patients. Many of these tests provide rapid results close to where patients are receiving care, allowing decisions to be made more quickly and reducing delays to treatment.

Behind each of these tests is a team of just nine people ensuring equipment is working correctly, results are accurate and staff are trained to use devices safely and effectively.

Maintaining quality and safety

When a clinician uses a test result to make a decision about a patient's care, they need to know that result is accurate. The POCT team helps provide that reassurance by monitoring equipment, carrying out regular quality checks and responding quickly if issues arise.

The team's work goes far beyond managing testing equipment. They regularly carry out audits and visits to clinical areas to ensure devices continue to perform reliably and that testing is being carried out correctly. If opportunities for improvement are identified, the team works closely with staff to provide additional support and training, helping maintain the high standards that keep patients safe.

Kerrie Chuter, Chief Scientist for Point of Care Testing, said: "Behind every point of care test is a dedicated team providing the expertise, governance and quality assurance that clinicians rely on to deliver the best possible care for patients."

Sharing expertise to improve patient care

Point of care tests are carried out by thousands of doctors, nurses, clinical support workers and other patient-facing staff, so education is a significant part of the team's role.

POCT colleagues provide e-learning, face-to-face training and competency assessments to ensure staff feel confident using equipment correctly and safely. They also support large numbers of new starters every year. This summer alone, the team helped train more than 200 new doctors.

By sharing their specialist knowledge, the team helps ensure patients receive safe and consistent care wherever point of care testing is used.

One point of care associate said: "The best thing about my job is helping bring diagnostic testing closer to patients. I get to train and support colleagues in clinical areas, and I love building connections across the Trust and out in the community."

Innovation and continuous improvement

The team is constantly looking for ways to improve services for both patients and staff.

Regular reviews of equipment and processes help identify opportunities to work more efficiently, reduce waste and ensure testing supplies are available where they are needed most. A recently introduced stock management system has helped centralise the ordering and distribution of testing supplies, ensuring equipment is readily available while reducing unnecessary waste.

The team also supports the introduction of new technologies that can improve patient care. In Radiology, for example, patients can now have a creatinine test before scans involving contrast dye, delivering rapid results and helping avoid delays to appointments.

In Maternity services, the team has supported the introduction of new testing that can give clinicians quicker answers when a rupture of membranes (waters breaking) is suspected, helping women receive the right care sooner.

Another innovation is ROTEM technology, which tests blood clotting and can help clinicians caring for women experiencing severe bleeding during childbirth. By showing how well a patient's blood is clotting, the test can help teams provide the most appropriate treatment more quickly, improving care and reducing the use of unnecessary blood products.

Looking to the future

The team continues to drive improvement through a range of projects, including a Kent-wide replacement programme for blood gas analysers, a new glucose monitoring programme, work to standardise products across services and collaboration with sexual health colleagues on new saliva-based HIV testing.

Their commitment to quality has also been recognised nationally, with MTW among the first organisations in the country to achieve independent accreditation for both blood glucose and ketones and blood gas point of care testing services.

While much of their work takes place behind the scenes, the impact of the POCT team is felt across the Trust every day. By helping clinicians access fast, reliable diagnostic information, they play an essential role in delivering safe, effective and timely care for patients.