Pathology User Survey 2019

Dear Pathology service user,

Pathology have had another busy year during 2018-2019. We continue to increase our test repertoire and regularly review transport and phlebotomy clinics. We perform more than 12,000,000 tests per year on a variety of diagnostic and screening samples which is a phenomenal achievement and through 2018-2019 we have achieved and maintained accreditation to the British Standard ISO15189:2012 Medical laboratories - Requirements for quality and competence receiving really positive feedback from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) on the knowledge and competence of our staff and the high quality of the service that we provide.

Our Pathology website is now well established and if you haven't yet taken a look I would encourage you to access it at www.UHNMPathology.com for test information, sample requirements and all our latest news.

2019 also involves a sad time for the laboratory but a really positive advancement for patients as we will say goodbye to the Cytology Cervical Screening Service based at Royal Stoke University Hospital which is being moved nationally to primary Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing. I'm sure you'll join me in thanking all staff who have been involved in the cervical screening service over the years. Many lives have been saved since the introduction of the NHS Cervical Screening Service in 1988. Please provide any feedback on the service that we delivered during 2018-19.

Many thanks to all who completed the 2018 survey, we analysed all returns and based on your responses have reviewed the following areas:

Contacting the laboratory -
Although our blood sciences helpline does continue to have very busy periods we are hoping that we can include more advice on our website to help with diagnostic testing queries. If there is a particular topic or a suggestion for inclusion on the website please let us know as we continually review and improve its content.
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Requesting and reporting pathology investigations -
Electronic reporting is now available for the majority of our requests and further review is on-going to address any areas where we are currently unable to report electronically.

Specimen transportation -
The times and frequency of specimen collection has been reviewed and additional pick up times added where clinics have been extended or relocated. Please keep us informed if you add or extend clinic times and we will do our best to accommodate any changes.

Blood test clinics -
The phlebotomy evening blood test clinics continue to be popular with patients and the option of both a walk-in service or a bookable appointment gives patients a choice for their blood test. We continue to expand our service and we now offer walk-in centres at Bentilee, Bradwell, Cobridge and Meir plus an additional walk-in centre at Leek Moorlands Hospital from Tuesday to Thursday 08:00 to 12:45. We also have evening clinics at Bradwell Hospital on a Monday evening and Cobridge Community Health Centre on a Wednesday evening.
We have a leaflet containing the times and locations of all walk-in and bookable clinics which is available for patients. If you require copies of the leaflet please contact the laboratory.

Test repertoire -
Our test repertoire is continually reviewed, please see our latest developments page on the UHNMPathology website for changes and new tests.