Figures & data
Figure 1. An outline of the hierarchy of evidence that will be required before (first six tiers) and following the implementation of a new test (audit of impact).
Figure 2. To show the relationship between the commissioning cycle (the central panel) and the steps involved in generating the evidence to address a clinical need or policy problem (the outer, shaded panels).
Figure 3. An outline of the relationship between the commiss ioners, purchasers and providers. The commissioners in the primary care trust will work with general practitioners (primary care physicians) to identify the clinical needs of the local population (possibly with practice based commissioners), and then determine where the care will be delivered. The pathology commissioning network will work with the commissioners to determine the specification of the laboratory medicine (pathology) service required to meet the need identified. The shaded boxes denote the elements of the organisation involved in funding the provision of health care.
