The service is divided into five main
areas, clinical chemistry, haematology
(including transfusion), cellular pathology, microbiology
(including virology) and central services (including blood
tests / phlebotomy).
Staff details
Clinical Director of Pathology: Geoff
Lester
Pathology Manager: Geoff Pinney
Quality Manager: Dave Asplin
Head Biomedical Scientist, Haematology: Julie
Cameron
Head Biomedical Scientist, Clinical Chemistry:
Jackie Armitage
Head Biomedical Scientist, Cellular Pathology:
Jill Stinchcombe
Head Biomedical Scientist, Microbiology: Richard
Wills
Central Services Manager: Ann Halford
Anticoagulant Clinical Nurse Specialist: Karen
Holohan
Central services
The administration department covers four main
areas:
Specimen reception: This area
has responsibility for the overall receipt and distribution of
specimens and samples received into the department. Also supplying
wards and GP surgeries with request forms and sample collection
media.
Phlebotomy services: A
‘walk-in’ phlebotomy clinic service with fast tracking for patients
attending Clinical Haematology out-patient clinics or the
Anti-coagulant Clinic.
General administration:
supporting the disciplines within pathology with a distribution
service of patient results and information.
IT: Responsible for
developing, supporting and maintaining laboratory systems within
pathology, and supporting electronic reporting mechanisms to the
Trust and GPs.
Cellular pathology
Cytopathology
The department provides diagnostic and screening services for both
gynae (within the guidelines of the NHSCSP) and a wide range of
non-gynae specimens to both hospital and GP users, and community
clinics throughout west berkshire. The consultants support a weekly
rapid diagnosis breast clinic.
Surgical
histopathology
The department provides a comprehensive routine diagnostic service
to hospitals, GPs, community and outreach clinics in the west
berkshire area. This includes rapid frozen section diagnosis and
Immunocytochemistry service.
Mortuary
The mortuary suite is located on the first level in
the south wing of the Royal Berkshire Hospital and includes
coroner’s office and coroner’s officers. The department
provides a comprehensive service for the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust
and local authorities to meet the requirements of hospital staff,
HM coroners and the local community. There are facilities and
appropriately qualified staff to carry out post-mortem examinations
for both the Trust and local authorities and facilities for bodies
to be viewed or identified by relatives or friends.
The department provides a comprehensive
service that includes:
- routine clinical biochemistry: including
electrolytes and renal, liver, bone, lipid and thyroid
profiles.
- specialised clinical biochemistry: including
toxicology, endocrinology, paediatric clinical biochemistry and
paraprotein investigations.
- emergency investigations: a limited range of
investigations are normally rapidly available by prior arrangement
on a 24-hour basis.
- therapeutic drug monitoring: the therapeutic
drug monitoring service is run together with the department of
microbiology and the pharmacy department of the Royal Berkshire NHS
Foundation Trust.
- governance of point of care testing / devices
(POCT) within the Trust as applicable.
Haematology and blood transfusion
The department provide a comprehensive service
that includes:
- routine haematology: including FBC, ESR,
blood films, urgent sickle tests, malaria and infectious
mononucleosis screens.
- coagulation: including clotting screens
(APTR, INR), thrombophilia screens and factors
assays.
- Anticoagulant Clinic
service: providing outpatient support for new patients and
on-going postal management of anticoagulant therapy.
- specialised haematology: including
cytochemistry, immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, and
haemoglobinopathy investigations
- blood transfusion: including grouping and
antibody screening, cross-matching and Kleihauer test.
- autoimmune
immunology: including autoimmune profile, antibodies to
DNA, thyroid and cardiolipin.
The microbiology department provides a
comprehensive clinical service dealing with the diagnosis,
treatment, management and prevention of infectious diseases.
A consultant microbiologist heads the department and a consultant
microbiologist has nominated infection control
responsibilities.
The microbiology laboratory examines a range of specimens mainly
for the purpose of infectious disease diagnosis and
treatment. Various techniques are employed looking for the
presence of potentially pathogenic micro organisms including
bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.
How to get there: The Pathology Service
is located on level two of the South Block and can be reached via
the South Block entrance on Addington Road or the main link
corridor from the Royal Berkshire Hospital Main Entrance on Craven
Road. Park in multi-storey car park in Craven Road. Join the Main
Entrance block at level 2. Turn right past reception, passing the
shops (signed All Wards and Departments). At the welcomers desk
turn left down the main link corridor and follow signs to
Pathology or blood tests.
Wheelchair access: Yes
Phlebotomy (Pathology), South Block, Level 2
Useful Contacts
Pathology
South Block
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
0118 322 7751
Lab Tests Online - find out
more about clinical laboratory tests that are used in diagnosis and
treatment.