A conference bringing together senior clinical leaders and technology developers has highlighted the potential of point-of-care testing (POCT) to speed diagnosis, improve patient experience and reduce pressure on urgent and community services. Delegates said the next phase must focus on practical governance, integration and quality assurance if POCT is to be scaled safely.
What took place
Organised by Health Innovation North West Coast, the summit drew senior contributors from across the region and beyond to review how POCT might be accelerated and embedded into front-line care. Dr Paula Cowan, NHS England North West Medical Director for Primary Care, chaired the event and said it had generated energy and ideas that should be taken forward.
“It has been a brilliant event, and I hope everyone can take the energy from today and bring it to every aspect of our work,” said Dr Cowan.
Presentations included national perspectives from Prof Vicki Chalker, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer at NHS England, and work led or partnered by Mandy Townsend, Associate Director for Patient Safety at Health Innovation North West Coast. Several companies demonstrated POCT devices and services already being trialled in primary care, pharmacies and community settings.
Why POCT matters
Point-of-care testing is performed at or near where the patient receives care — for example in a GP surgery, a pharmacy or a community clinic — rather than at a central laboratory. The summit highlighted several advantages that make POCT attractive for strained health systems:
- Faster diagnosis: immediate results can shorten the time to appropriate treatment.
- Improved patient experience: fewer visits, quicker reassurance or escalation of care.
- Reduced pressure on services: early detection can prevent deterioration and lower demand on urgent care pathways.
- Antimicrobial stewardship: targeted testing supports appropriate antibiotic use.
Speakers stressed that these benefits depend on correct use, reliable devices and robust data flows so results inform care pathways and surveillance.
Calls for governance and integration
While the value of POCT was widely accepted, summit participants emphasised the need for governance frameworks. Dr Cowan urged organisers and partners to turn the event’s momentum into practical steps, focusing on assurance and governance structures for future adoption.
“The common thread of what we have been discussing is communication, integration and collaboration,” she said. “There’s no doubting the value of point-of-care testing and the role that Health Innovation North West Coast plays in ensuring that all partners in the region work collaboratively is hugely important. That will help us deliver for our patients.”
Speakers noted that POCT devices vary in complexity, regulatory status and connectivity. Without agreed standards for quality control, operator training, data integration and reporting, the risk is inconsistent results, missed surveillance opportunities and potential patient harm.
Practical considerations for roll-out
The summit outlined the sorts of practical issues that need resolving before POCT can be widely used:
- Assurance of device accuracy and quality control processes;
- Training and credentialling for staff performing tests;
- Clear pathways for how results affect treatment and referrals;
- Data integration with electronic patient records and public-health reporting;
- Funding models for devices, consumables and maintenance.
| Issue | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Quality assurance | Ensures reliability of results used for clinical decisions |
| Training | Reduces operator error and maintains consistent practice |
| Data connectivity | Links POCT results to records and surveillance systems |
Implications for local services
For clinicians and administrators in strained health systems, POCT offers a way to triage and manage patients more efficiently. But the summit’s emphasis on governance is a reminder that innovation alone is not sufficient. Effective adoption will require coordinated planning across primary care, pharmacies, community services and public-health teams.
Health managers must weigh initial capital and running costs against potential savings from avoided admissions and reduced workloads in urgent-care settings. Likewise, trade-offs around who performs tests, where they are stored and how consumables are supplied will shape implementation.
Next steps
Summit organisers highlighted the need to convert discussion into demonstrable outcomes: defining assurance frameworks, piloting integrated models and ensuring patient safety remains central. Mandy Townsend described a series of POCT projects she has led or partnered in since 2022 as part of the groundwork informing future efforts.
Delegates left with a clear message: POCT can deliver tangible clinical and system benefits, but widescale adoption must be accompanied by robust governance, clear communication between providers and dependable data links so results are clinically useful and safe.
Further announcements on pilots and governance proposals are expected as regional partners consider how to balance innovation with system safeguards.
