NNUH Cellular Pathology team receives national accreditation

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Cellular Pathology department is celebrating receiving a national accreditation for the services they offer to patients.

The team of 125 staff were granted the accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) against the International Standards Institute under their certification for Medical Laboratories.

In spring 2016, the team underwent three days of in depth assessment, where six assessors from UKAS visited the department to assess the laboratory areas of histopathology, immunocytochemistry, cervical cytology, non-gynaecological cytology, and the molecular Human Papilloma Virus test for cervical screening.

The assessors examined policies and procedures, looked at process logs and management systems, interviewed staff, reviewed staff training and competency and witnessed activities undertaken by staff in all areas of the laboratory.

Geoffrey Curran, NNUH Service Operations Manager Cellular Pathology explained how beneficial the accreditation is. “Patients who have Cellular Pathology tests such as biopsies and cervical cytology samples can be assured that our laboratory operates to the highest quality standards and that the tests and staff have been assessed to operate within a system that delivers a safe and effective service”.

He added: “Our quality manager Phil Hinson with quality leads Fay Kelly and Sara Casson played crucial roles in enabling our accreditation achievement.”

The department undertakes 124,000 tests a year and views 260,000 slides. They are one of 37 Cellular Pathology laboratories in the UK that are accredited to the UKAS standards.

Phil Hinson, Quality Manager for Cellular Pathology said: “Securing this accreditation shows how we are always working hard to look at how we can continuously strive for improvement when it comes to our services. The staff within the department have all welcomed the many additional systems and quality checks required to meet the national standards, which undoubtedly assures we give the highest quality of results and in turn, give patients confidence in the service that we provide”.

Mark Davies, Chief Executive of NNUH said: “Undertaking such extensive assessments to secure this accreditation shows the excellent services provided at the trust. I would like to congratulate and thank the Cellular Pathology team for all their dedicated work for patients”.

Kirsten Bloxham, Specialist Biomedical Scientist, operating the Roche Cobas HPV analyser, used to detect the presence of the human papilloma virus in cervical smears.