The NHS fetal anomaly screening programme (FASP) offers screening to all eligible pregnant women in England to assess the chance of their baby being born with Down’s syndrome (T21), Edwards’ syndrome (T18), Patau’s syndrome (T13) and a number of physical conditions.
We are asking all our stakeholders to comment on proposed changes to the NHS FASP standards. The proposed changes have been put together by a FASP working group including representation from public health commissioning teams, the FASP team, screening quality assurance service (SQAS) and the data team. The changes are based on feedback from users and stakeholders, and on a review of the performance data received over the last 3 years.
Have your say on the proposed changes to the standards.
The consultation will be open for 8 weeks. The closing date is Monday 19 April.
You can also view the current FASP standards.
Please share this blog post and details of the consultation with colleagues who may be involved in the FASP pathways.
What happens next
All responses will be reviewed and considered. A summary of the responses received will be made publicly available on GOV.UK once the consultation period has ended.
The FASP standards working group will review the responses and agree any changes. The revised standards will be published in December 2021, ready to be reported on from April 2022.
Proposed changes to standards
The definitions, language, terminology and reporting arrangements of all the current standards are under review.
FASP-S01: coverage: T21/T18/T13 screening
There are minor changes to this standard.
There is a clearer description of reporting arrangements.
FASP-S02: coverage: fetal ultrasound
There are minor changes to this standard.
There is an increase in performance thresholds to:
- acceptable level ≥ 95.0%
- achievable level ≥ 99.0%
FASP-S03a/b: test: screen positive/detection rate T21/T18/T13 screening
This standard is to be removed. The data will be published in other reports.
FASP-S04: test: fetal ultrasound
There are major changes to this standard.
Two new conditions are added:
- coarctation of the aorta
- congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)
There is an increase in performance thresholds and the addition of an achievable as well as an acceptable level for the first time.
FASP-S05: test: turnaround time T21/T18/T13 screening
There are minor changes to this standard.
There is an increase in performance thresholds to:
- acceptable level ≥ 98.5%
- achievable level ≥ 99.5%
FASP-S07: referral: time to intervention (T21/T18/T13)
There are major changes to this standard.
There is a change in the definition from timeliness of ‘offer’ of appointment to timeliness of ‘attendance’ at an appointment.
FASP-S08: referral: time to intervention (18+0 to 20+6 fetal ultrasound)
There are major changes to this standard.
There is a change in performance thresholds to:
- acceptable level ≥ 85.0%
- added achievable level ≥ 97.0%
A definition is given for local and tertiary referrals. The reporting arrangements are changing from maternity services to the National Congenital and Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS).
FASP-S09a/b/c/d: diagnosis/intervention: diagnostic tests
There are major changes to this standard.
This is to report on test turnaround times for quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) testing only. It currently reports on 4 parts. The reporting arrangements are changing from the Association of Clinical Genomic Science (AGCS) to NCARDRS.
There is a change in performance thresholds to:
- acceptable level ≥ 90.0%
- added achievable level ≥ 95.0%
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