The Clinical Biochemistry Department provides a rapid, reliable and above all, quality service to the clinician and patient. To this end, we participate in a variety of quality assessment programmes and consistently perform above average. The Department is regularly inspected by Clinical Pathology Accreditation Limited.

Services

Clinical scientific staff are available for advice and help with patient investigation, interpretation of results and discussion of clinical problems. The test repertoire offered within Clinical Biochemistry, together with sample requirements are listed in the Pathology Handbook (http://www.baspath.co.uk/) Point of Care Testing (POCT) We have a point of care team who provide support to all Trust point of care instrumentation (glucose meters, urinalysis machines, anti-coagulation meters). Support includes training, daily maintenance, quality assurance and troubleshooting. We are aware of the need to support POCT in GP surgeries and would welcome contact from interested practices. At this stage we are able to provide advice on POCT instrumentation and training needs.

Information Technology

We send electronic Pathology reports to over 90% of our GP surgeries. Electronic requesting through your GP system is being piloted and is expected to be rolled out to all surgeries during 2009/10. We are able to provide detailed information on test requesting for individual surgeries for clinical audit purposes.

Opening Hours

We are open for the receipt and handling of specimens from 8am to 8pm. During these periods we assay most of the routinely available tests every day. Out of hours i.e. between 8pm and 8am the laboratory is covered by a single handed Biomedical Scientist providing a service for emergency and urgent work only.

Contacts:

Results Enquiry: 01268 524900 / 0845 155 3111 ext 3030

Medical Secretary: 01268 524900 / 0845 155 3111 ext 3018

Consultant Biochemist/Head of Department Clinical advice and service development: 01268 524900 / 0845 155 3111 ext 3014