Pathology services. The Pathology Service provides a range of diagnostic tests and procedures with the overall purpose of informing clinicians in other specialities (Medicine, Surgery, Geriatrics, Paediatrics, General Practice) as to the condition of their patients. The availability of the full range of modern pathology services is therefore an essential component in the provision of our acute and specialist hospital services.

Specialities required are:

— haematology,

— blood transfusion,

— immunology,

— microbiology,

— histology.

The provider can propose as an option reliable, safe and comprehensive collection and delivery service for all specimens and reports and include all costs in the service charge.

Minimum requirements are the acquisition, storage, stock control and distribution of all associated specimen containers, blood collection tubes, microbiological sampling items etc required to ensure full service provision.

Accurate, precise, and timely analysis of specimens received from QVH by appropriate and adequately controlled techniques. This service must be available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

An educational and lecture programme for Medical, Scientific, Nursing and Ancillary staff will be offered, where appropriate, with supporting guidelines and procedures. A specific requirement is phlebotomy / venepuncture training for nursing staff and the provision of training and assessment of staff to comply with new NPSA guidelines for blood products.

Blood Transfusion will be supplied from the Provider’s site. Emergency Blood Group O Negative will be stored on QVH site for emergencies while patients’ own group compatible blood is provided. Compatible blood will be transported to the QVH whilst compatible blood is being cross-matched at the Provider’s laboratory.