About the Dorset County Hospital Pathology Service
The Trust's Pathology department aims to provide a high quality pathology service to acute hospitals, community hospitals and General Practitioners in West Dorset and adjoining areas. The service enjoys excellent modern facilities at the Dorset County Hospital. Opened in 1987, the department employs a total of almost 80 medical, scientific and clerical staff. The department is recognised for training Biomedical Scientists (BMS's) by the Health Professions Council (HPC)
The Haematology and Hospital Transfusion Laboratory, Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Histopathology specialities are each headed by medically or scientifically qualified consultants who are always available for advice and help with patient investigation, interpretation of results and discussion of clinical problems. Microbiology services include bacterial and virus detection, as well as infection control with collaboration and access to national expertise and reference facilities. Anti-coagulation services provide monitoring and/or dosing in our own outpatient department or using clinic based sample collection and same day reporting. This service is currently under review, negotiations are ongoing with our local PCT's with the aim of providing both near patient testing and dosing at one clinic visit at the local GP surgery.
Throughout the department, laboratories use the latest technologies and are well equipped. The department is committed to providing a rapid, reliable and above all, quality service to the clinician and patient. To this end, laboratories participate in a variety of quality assessment programmes and consistently perform above average. The laboratories share a fully computerised results storage and reporting system which can be accessed from terminals and personal computers in hospitals throughout West Dorset. A growing number of GP practices now receive their results by electronic mail.
We are open for the receipt and handling of specimens from 07:00hrs to 01:00hrs. During these periods we assay most of the routinely available tests every day. Laboratory staff are on site until 01:00hrs for clinically essential work.
Out of hours i.e. between 01:00hrs and 07:00hrs the laboratory is covered by a single handed Biomedical Scientist covering Chemistry, Haematology and Hospital Transfusion Laboratory (available through switchboard) to provide a service for emergency and urgent work only. Routine work will not be processed during this period.
Note samples received before 07:00hrs for acute units (ITU,CCU,SCBU,EMU) will be processed by 09.00hrs, staff will automatically process this work and do not have to be contacted through switchboard.
All departments participate in peer review and are assessed by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd which reflects the high standards of service offered by the department.
DEPARTMENT
ACCREDITATION STATUS
Biochemistry
Conditional Accreditation
Haematology
Conditional Accreditation
Histopathology
Full Accreditation
Microbiology
Conditional Accreditation
The departments fully participate in National External Quality Assurance Schemes, current up to date information available on Clinical Intranet.
It is important to discuss requirements with the Department well in advance to ensure appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure that the specimen collection, handling, storage and analysis are undertaken to the appropriate standards that may be stipulated by trial organisers. The Department would be happy to assist and support this activity.
Near Patient Testing
We provide support and advice for near patient testing. This includes:
Blood glucose meters (Wards, departments, GP surgeries and ambulance services)
Blood gas analysers
HbA1c analyser in Paediatrics
Bilirubinometer (SCBU)
Sweat Conductivity meter (Paediatrics)
We strongly advise the sites to:
1) Have a named trainer and deputy at each site to provide and cascade essential training to all of their staff.
2) To undertake competency assessments for all staff using the equipment.
3) To enrol and actively participate in external quality assurance schemes.
Laboratory staff are involved in medical devices committee and have participated in producing guidelines for the use of medical devices.
