pathology services handbook - St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
pathology services handbook - St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
pathology services handbook - St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
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1.7 EMERGENCY INVESTIGATIONS<br />
DEPARTMENT NORMAL WORKING HOURS OUT OF HOURS<br />
Clinical Blood Sciences:<br />
Chemical Pathology<br />
Telephone laboratory in advance<br />
(ext 2651)<br />
Bleep 6032 in advance<br />
Clinical Blood Sciences:<br />
Haematology<br />
Send to laboratory immediately<br />
Send to laboratory<br />
immediately<br />
Cellular Pathology<br />
Telephone laboratory in advance<br />
(see page 14)<br />
NO SERVICE<br />
Medical Microbiology Telephone laboratory in advance<br />
Contact lab staff on call via<br />
switchboard<br />
PRU/Immunology Telephone laboratory in advance NO SERVICE<br />
Once the laboratory concerned has agreed that the specimen is an emergency, it should<br />
be forwarded as soon as possible either by using the pneumatic tube system or a porter<br />
and/or transport, as appropriate. NB: Haematology specimens should be forwarded<br />
immediately without contacting the Haematology laboratory, if they are viewed as<br />
emergencies.<br />
A doctor must make all requests for urgent analysis. Results of tests on all<br />
urgent requests will be telephoned to the doctor as soon as they are<br />
available, provided the appropriate contact number is entered on the request<br />
form.<br />
Please request a test to be done urgently only when it is essential for the immediate well<br />
being of the patient - not for your convenience.<br />
1.8 OUT OF HOURS<br />
For out of hours service information, please check under relevant department.<br />
IMPORTANT: Are you making proper use of the laboratories?<br />
Please avoid sending samples outside of the core hours unless they are urgent.<br />
Complete the request form legibly and fully; including a contact number (often<br />
we do not know where to send the results). Samples which are inadequately<br />
identified may not be analysed. Please indicate clinical diagnosis and any drug<br />
therapy.<br />
Only ask for tests you really need; remembering clinical budgets be selective.<br />
If the request is urgent, please see section headed “Emergency<br />
Investigations” on the previous page for actions required.<br />
If you have clinical or analytical queries relating either to patients or the <strong>services</strong>,<br />
the on-call Consultants/medical staff are always available to discuss these with you.<br />
1.9 SPECIMENS<br />
In order to keep turnaround times to a minimum, send all specimens to the laboratory as<br />
quickly as possible by using either the pneumatic tube system (for operating guidelines see<br />
chapter 9) or a porter and/or transport, as appropriate.<br />
Pathology Services Handbook v3.2.2 - February 2013 11 of 81
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