Welcome to SPAN
The Scottish Pathology Network is a group of representatives tasked with delivering a national perspective on the development of histopathology and cervical cytology services across Scotland.
It evolved from the previous North and East of Scotland Pathology Network (NESPAN) and the West of Scotland Network. For more information about the previous Networks read the NESPAN report: Word Document Version | PDF Version.
Funding was awarded via the 3 regional planning groups and supported by the Scottish Executive to appoint a network lead and network manager. Professor Frank Carey was appointed Network Lead and Mr Derek Bishop appointed as the Network Manager (see contact us for contact details).
The envisaged role of the SPAN is described as:
'To improve pathology services by creating and developing a Scotland wide Managed Diagnostic Network (MDN) which will steer modernisation, including service change and redesign, to ensure provision of an effective pathology service which anticipates and responds to user needs, future requirements, national guidelines and meets Clinical Pathology Accreditation Standards.'
Its main lines of communication are to and from the Scottish Pathology Departments and to and from the Regional Planning Groups, Cancer Networks and Scottish Executive Health Department.