Funding of the scheme

The scheme was originally supported by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority (WMRHA) and consequently, up to March 1991, participants in the Scheme came predominantly from within the region.

The WMRHA, through its Regional Specialities Agency, acted as both broker and purchaser for its 22 District Health Authorities. Most of its haematology laboratories are still members of the scheme. From 1st April 1994 WMRHA laboratories had funding devolved and the scheme is now totally self-sufficient. Funding is raised by direct invoicing in response to orders. We have a number of NHS customers around the country along with a growing number of private laboratories and commercial companies. Considerable interest is being shown by other countries and we have an increasing number of participants in the Republic of Ireland. Indeed less than 20% of participants are from the former West Midlands RHA area. Over 25% are from hospitals outside the UK.

The service provided by the scheme is exempt from VAT.   It is a non-profit making organisation and all funds are invested in the maintenance and improvement of the scheme.   Current subscriptions are calculated by projecting the number of likely participants and relating this to the staff time and other costs involved in providing the scheme.   Prices are unlikely to increase by more than the rate of inflation, but may have to do so in exceptional circumstances e.g. in response to national pay settlements, taxation changes, etc.   We are confident that we have got our pricing strategy right and that we provide excellent value both in terms of the number of trials dispatched and the quality and speed of analysis provided.