Pathology
Bridging the gap between science and medicine to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.
This covers 3 main hospitals (Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and St Michael’s Hospital in Hayle), 9 community hospitals, approximately 80 GP surgeries and a number of mental health and learning disabilities centres.
The Pathology budget is £16.6 million and includes approximately £3.8m for blood and blood product and the service itself. We process approximately 1.4 million requests a year and report 3.9 million requestable test groups. The staff across pathology provides 70% of diagnoses based on the pathology results provided by laboratory services.
Our pathology services are fully accredited, regulatory compliant and provide advice, results and clinical input across all the main Pathology specialties from a base at Royal Cornwall Hospital.
Our mission statement is:
To continue to provide and develop quality, cost-effective pathology services and staffing relevant to local clinical practice and within a changing technological, functional and organisational environment
The Pathology Departments
Key Information
Key Pathology Contacts & Roles
Key Pathology Contacts
Pathology Specialty Director
Dr James Garvican (Consultant Histopathologist)
01872 252665
j.garvican@nhs.net
Pathology Service Manager and Head Biomedical Scientist Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology
Stephen Davison
01872 25 2798
sdavison1@nhs.net
Head Biomedical Scientist for Blood Transfusion, Haematology and Clinical Chemistry
Alain Rolli
01872 252554
alain.rolli@nhs.net
Pathology Services Optimisation Manager
Dr Nigel Oakes
01872 25 4619
nigeloakes@nhs.net
Pathology Optimisation Projects Lead
Jo Walsh
01872 254619
jowalsh@nhs.net
Lead Scientist for Clinical Microbiology
Dr Gemma Vanstone
01872 254900
Gemma.vanstone@nhs.net
Pathology Quality, Governance Manager and H&S Lead Business Continuity Lead
Sarah Pointon
01872 252582
sarahpointon@nhs.net
Pathology Quality Improvement and Assessment Specialist
Lynne Bedford
01872 252582
lynne.bedford1@nhs.net
Pathology Information Technology Manager
Steve Sprague
01872 254619
steven.sprague@nhs.net
Key Pathology Roles
The Pathology team is both highly specialised and incredibly varied. We have a mix of scientific, medical and support staff who all work together to process and analyse millions of samples each year. In each of our departments you’ll find:
Medical Laboratory Assistants / Medical Laboratory Support Workers
Our medical lab assistants and support workers keep our labs running smoothly. They receive and unpack all of our samples and make sure they end up in the right place. They also help prepare specimens for analysis as well as equipment maintenance, filing, audits, preparing chemicals for analysis and providing results.
Biomedical Scientists
Our Biomedical Scientists process samples using a range of specialised techniques so that they can make a diagnosis, identify causes of disease and monitor the effectiveness of treatments.
Each of our teams also have a number of specialist roles:
The Haematology, Blood Transfusion & Immunology Team
Transfusion Practitioners oversee blood transfusions. They make sure blood components are safe and used efficiently. They also advise other medical staff who care for patients receiving blood components, and make sure guidelines and protocols are followed.
Clinical Scientists carry out haematology tests including andrology and coagulation services. They hold clinical responsibility and are the main point of contact for GPs, other primary care practitioners and within the Royal Cornwall Hospitals.
Consultant Haematologists interpret test results and act as the bridge between the science of the laboratory and the medicine of the hospital. Hospital doctors and GPs can phone them for advice.
Specific contact information for the Haematology, Blood Transfusion & Immunology team.
The Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology Team
Cytoscreeners evaluate specimens on glass slides using microscopes to see whether the cells are normal or abnormal. Abnormal specimens are referred to a pathologist for final interpretation or medical diagnosis.
Consultant Biomedical Scientist in Cytology is the strategic and clinical lead in cervical cytology covering the south west.
Consultant Pathologists interpret the results from the Cytoscreeners and act as the bridge between the science of the laboratory and the medicine of the hospital. Hospital doctors and GPs can phone them for advice. They diagnose disease and carry out post mortems to investigate cause of death.
Specific contact information for the Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology team
The Mortuary and Bereavement service
Anatomical Technicians assist Pathologists during post mortem examinations. They also look after the day-to-day running of the mortuary service and maintenance of the post mortem room. They conduct viewings in our specially designed quiet rooms, and release the deceased to undertakers in preparation for a funeral.
Bereavement Officers offer advice, practical help and support for bereaved relatives in the period following the death of a loved one.
Specific contact information for the Mortuary and Bereavement team
The Clinical Microbiology Team
Consultant Medical Microbiologists have an incredibly varied role. Microbiologists advise clinicians on the management of infection, do clinical ward rounds, provide advice for community care and review positive laboratory samples. They also work with the infection control team to prevent and control outbreaks of healthcare associated infections. This involves responding to changing microorganisms and emerging diseases, and advising hospital engineers about building new hospital areas. Consultants are also responsible for the clinical governance of the diagnostic laboratory and are involved in introducing new tests and techniques.
Specific contact information for the Clinical Microbiology team
The Clinical Chemistry Team
Clinical Biochemists interpret results, acting as the bridge between the science of the laboratory and the medicine of the hospital. Hospital doctors and GPs can phone them for advice.
Chemical Pathologists are similar to the Clinical Biochemists as they also provide interpretation of results. However, as medics, they have a larger clinical component to their role. For example, they are involved in nutrition ward rounds and providing clinics such as Diabetes, Lipids & Metabolic Medicine.
Specific contact information for the Clinical Chemistry team
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) Team
The Associate Practitioner is available for problem solving, fixing of Point Of Care Testing (POCT) equipment and assisting in training.
Our senior Biomedical Scientist in Clinical Chemistry oversees the day-to-day running of POCT team and ensures Service Level Agreements and policies are disseminated throughout the trust.
Consultant Biochemist is the clinical lead for POCT.
Specific contact information for the Point of Care Testing team
Registrations and Memberships
Our scientific staff are all registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and either members of the Institute of Biomedical Scientists (IBMS) or the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath). Our medical staff are members of the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) or Royal College of Physicians (RCP). Everyone in the Pathology team undergoes Continual Professional Development to ensure their education and training remains up-to-date.
Careers in Pathology
Working in an NHS laboratory means you will play an important part in diagnosing disease and making sure that patients get the treatment they need as soon as possible.
If you’d like to visit our laboratory to find out more about a career in pathology, please contact Martyn Hicks in the Haematology Department on 01872 252502.
Find out more about a career in pathology:
Key Pathology Policies & Guides
Further sources of information about pathology
- Lab Tests Online – A fantastic website for patients and clinicians alike on Pathology tests
- Sense about Science – providing evidence to the public on all current pathology topics
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Peninsula Pathology Network
- European Blood Safety Directives and Blood Safety and Quality Regulations (BSQR)
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
- Human Tissue Authority
Pathology Services Newsletters
Lab Med News
A bimonthly newsletter sent via email to Primary Care. It contains the latest news from Pathology including changes to services, information and guidance on tests, and much more. Lab Med News is compiled by Anna Barton, Principal Clinical Biochemist (Department of Clinical Chemistry).
