Chair: Dr Fiona MacKenzie
The SMVN leads and co-ordinates NHS Scotland COVID-19 diagnostic testing across all 15 Health Boards with a Microbiology / Virology service via its “Technical Group.” Members of the Technical Group include representatives from all NHS Scotland Health Boards, Specialist Virology Centres, National Procurement, Public Health Scotland, the National Network Management Service and Information Management Service.
The Technical Group met three times per week at the start of the pandemic and still meets at least weekly. The SMVN has enabled Boards to react quickly to develop a new molecular diagnostic service and rapidly develop the knowledge and skills required. NHS Boards currently provide capacity for over 96,000 tests per week and have delivered over 7 million tests, to date, during the pandemic. As well as co-ordinating COVID-19 diagnostic testing for NHS Scotland, the SMVN has served as a single point of contact for all of its partners and stakeholders including: PHS, National Procurement, Scottish Government “Test & Protect”, SG policy makers, CNOD and commercial companies supplying equipment and tests.
The combined efforts of the SMVN and National Procurement have resulted in national contracts which have yielded hugely significant cost savings for NHS Scotland. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for the SMVN to lead on relatively new models of service by introducing Clinical Microbiology / Virology “rapid diagnostic testing” and Point of Care Testing (POCT) to all 15 Health Boards. Along with the IPCDs, the SMVN “Technical Group” provides subject matter expertise and has helped inform many policy decisions, as well as the National Infection Prevention & Control Manual.
In collaboration with the Information Management Service (IMS), the SMVN produces weekly COVID-19 testing performance data reports for Scottish Government colleagues and has done so for over two years. These are important for monitoring testing demand as well as performance.
The SMVN and National Procurement have been recognised
The SMVN, via its SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19) Testing Technical Group, has demonstrated exceptional leadership in a number of key areas. The following COVID-19 related awards have been received during 2022:
Scottish Government’s Chief Healthcare Science Officer Awards 2022
The SMVN SARS-CoV-2 Technical Group received the Scottish Government’s Chief Healthcare Science Officer INNOVATOR AWARD.
GO Awards Scotland 2022 / 23
https://scotland.goawards.co.uk/2022-23-winners/
Individual of the Year
David Taggart Category Manager, NHS National Services Scotland
Contracts and Supplier Management Award
NHS Scotland National Procurement COVID Testing Team
Collaborative Procurement Initiative Awards. Highly Commended
Supply, Delivery and Implementation of COVID-19 Testing for Scotland, NHS National Procurement Scotland, Scottish Microbiology Virology Network, Public Health Scotland, Scottish Government COVID Testing Policy, COVID Regional Hubs, NSS Clinical Directorate & NHS Assure.
Scottish Health Awards 2022
For co-coordinating NHS Scotland diagnostic COVID-19 testing throughout the pandemic.
