Laboratory services to the Trust are provided by South of Tyne & Wear Clinical Pathology Services which is managed by Gateshead Health NHSFT.

There is a single ‘cold’ laboratory at Gateshead offering laboratory microbiology, histopathology, immunology and less urgent blood sciences, and ‘hot labs’ on the South Tyneside and Sunderland sites offering inpatient laboratory blood sciences and transfusion services.

The consultant medical microbiologists and consultant clinical haematologists work closely with the laboratory but are employed by STSFT.

Link to SoTW Clinical Pathology Services: http://www.thepathologycentre.org/

  • Acute Service Laboratory (‘hot lab’), Sunderland Royal Hospital: extension 42784
  • Acute Service Laboratory (‘hot lab’), S Tyneside District Hospital: extension 4156
  • The Pathology Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Gateshead: 0191 445 6499 and follow the prompts

Laboratory Microbiology

What we do

The medical microbiology team gives advice to Trust staff and neighbouring GPs on the investigation and treatment of infection, including infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship. We work closely with the microbiology laboratory run by South of Tyne Clinical Pathology Services in Gateshead to ensure that the diagnostic service meets the needs of the Trust.

Who we are

Dr Andrew Berrington
Consultant Microbiologist and Clinical Director of Pharmacy/Pathology
a.berrington@nhs.net

Dr Chris Settle
Consultant Microbiologist and Infection Control Doctor
chris.settle@nhs.net

Dr Katherine Watson
Consultant Microbiologist and Deputy Infection Control Doctor for SRH/SEI
katherine.watson3@nhs.net

How you can contact us

SRH/SEI:

  • During office hours bleep 51315. If you want to speak to a specific microbiologist, contact details are in the online telephone directory
  • Saturday / Sunday / Bank Holidays 9-5: phone switchboard and ask to speak to the medical microbiologist covering the Sunderland sites

STDH:

  • phone switchboard and ask to speak to the medical microbiologist covering the S Tyneside site. Currently there is a combined S Tyneside/Gateshead weekend rota so you might be put through to a Gateshead microbiologist.

Both sites 5pm-9am:

  • Phone switchboard and ask to speak to the on-call microbiologist. We have a combined on-call rota with GHNT so you might be put through to a Gateshead microbiologist.

 

Clinical Biochemistry

What we do

  • Clinical Biochemistry is a division of Pathology generally responsible for the analysis of body fluids such as blood and urine.  The presence of an illness or disease can often be detected or confirmed by measuring substances that make up the body’s biochemistry.  Biochemistry tests are also used to monitor long term conditions such as diabetes and raised cholesterol levels.

 

  • The Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory aims to provide a comprehensive routine and emergency diagnostic service. In the interests of efficiency and effectiveness the service is delivered with the majority of investigations being performed in-house wherever numbers, service demands and costs allow. We are dedicated to providing the best analytical service possible. To this end there are always people available to offer advice, assistance with interpretation and help in deciding on further investigations. In the same vein, further tests will be cascaded where it is practical and will help the investigation, or removed where deemed inappropriate for that investigation. This policy depends on your co-operation in giving the relevant clinical details and sending the correct samples. It also depends on your feed-back so that we are aware of our shortcomings and can work towards continued improvement.

Who we are

Clinical Biochemistry is a Consultant led service with scientific and technical laboratory staff always available to answer queries and provide help.

  • David Kennedy, Consultant Clinical Biochemist, Head of Clinical Biochemistry Department and Pathology Clinical Director.  Phil Johnson, Biomedical Scientist, Clinical Biochemistry Departmental Manager

Where we are based

  • The Clinical Biochemistry Department is based across the South of Tyne and Wear Clinical Pathology Service and located in the Pathology Laboratories.

How you can contact us

  • Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory at Queen Elizabeth Hospital 0191 445 8378
  • Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory at South Tyneside Hospital 0191 202 4176,       0191 2022359,  Bleep 015
  • Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory at Sunderland Hospital 0191 569 9602 , extension 42800 and 42809, Bleep 51302
  • David Kennedy, Head of Clinical Biochemistry Department, david.kennedy1@nhs.net 0191 445 6511
  • Phil Johnson, Clinical Biochemistry Departmental Manager, phil.johnson3@nhs.net 0191 445 6570
  • GHNT Haematology & Blood Transfusion Manager: Acting Nicola Keepin nicola.keepin@nhs.net 

Blood Sciences

Cellular Pathology

What we do 

Cellular Pathology is the study of disease in tissues and organs from both surgical operations or post mortem examinations. Histopathology is a key diagnostic test in the initial detection and diagnosis of cancer supported by Immunohistochemistry techniques and genetic testing. 

Tissue received into the department is processed and embedded in paraffin wax to enable tissue sections to be cut, stained and examined microscopically by a Pathologist.

Autoimmune studies are also carried out in the department on skin and renal biopsies.
 

Consultant Histopathologists:

Point of Care

Point of Care Team

What we do

Clinical lead for Point of Care

Clinical lead for Point of Care and responsible for:

  • the appointment of the Point of Care committee, a multidisciplinary management group with representation from the Point of Care team and clinical programmes to advice on the provision of PoCT
  • establishing measurable quality objectives

  • planning and maintaining the integrity of the quality management system to meet the requirements of the service and the quality objectives

Pathology Point of Care Departmental Manager and Point of Care Manager
 
Pathology Departmental manager (BMS4) heads a team within Pathology dedicated to supporting PoCT. This service is managed by the Point of Care Manager (BMS3) and the PoCT Co-ordinators.
 
The Point of Care manager (BMS3) has responsibility for ensuring POC investigation procedures, outside the laboratory, have clearly defined procedural guidance and that the organisations provide/support the training required for staff to undertake PoCT safely.
 
Pathology Point of Care Co-ordinators
 
Provide a point of contact for advice and liaison on matters relating to PoCT across the organisations, support agreed training and development needs across the organisations and ensure the successful implementation of the PoCT Policy.
 
Point of Care BMS/AP/PSW staff

Ensure the daily support of Point of Care services including training and maintenance of devices and consumables.

Who we are

  • Caroline Addison – Clinical Lead for PoCT
  • Lee Sudlow - Departmental Manager (BMS 4)
  • Ian Dunn – Technical Manager
  • Patricia Lockett – PoCT Co-ordinator (BMS 2)
  • Biomedical Scientists (BMS 1)
  • Associate Practitioners (AP)
  • Pathology Support Workers (PSW)

Where we are based

The Point of Care teams are based across the South of Tyne and Wear Clinical Pathology Service and located in the Pathology Laboratories.

How you can contact us

  • Ian Dunn – Technical Manager – 0191 445 8711
  • Patricia Lockett – 0191 445 8563
  • Jamie Keegans – 0191 445 5587
  • Point of Care team and General Enquires– ghnt.poct.support@nhs.net
  • PoCT Team based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00pm) – 0191 445 3195
  • PoCT Team based at South Tyneside Hospital (Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00pm) – 0191 404 1283
  • PoCT Team based at Sunderland Hospital (Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00pm) – External: 0191 5699051 Internal: Ext 49051

Useful documents

Immunology

Introduction

The clinical Immunology diagnostic service aims to provide its users with a comprehensive repertoire of tests for autoimmunity, rheumatic diseases and allergy in- house. The Immunology laboratory liaises closely with all other Pathology services at Gateshead to offer interpretation of all tests relating to immune function if required. Requests for tests outside our repertoire will be sent for testing to external laboratories. We are committed to a service of the highest quality in line with user requirements, to good professional practice and continued compliance with ISO 15189:2012 accreditation standards. We welcome dialogue with our users regarding tests and future service provision.

Staffing

Clinical Immunology is a Consultant led service with Medical and technical laboratory staff always available to answer queries and provide help

Advice

  • Day to day advice can be obtained by contacting the Gateshead Pathology Centre, telephone 0191 445 6499 and follow the prompts

.   Where clinical advice is required the Consultant Immunologist may be contacted.

Laboratory hours

Core laboratory hours are from 8.30 a.m to 5 p.m. Laboratory staff are always available during those times to answer queries and will contact the Immunology Consultant if required.

Key Telephone numbers

Dr Dinusha Chandratilleke

Immunology Consultant

0191 2824708

 

d.chandratilleke@nhs.net

 

Dr Helen Bourne, Immunology Consultant

0191 2820958

 

helen.bourne2@nhs.net

BMS Lead, Mr S Nixon / Immunology Laboratory

0191 4456546

Stephen.nixon@nhs.net

Mortuary

What we do

The mortuaries at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal are managed by South of Tyne & Wear Clinical Pathology Services provided by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The mortuaries provide facilities for the temporary storage of deceased who have died in hospital and post mortem facilities. 

Each mortuary also provides a public mortuary facility and post mortem examination services for the Coroner of each respective area for bodies under their control.
 

Who we are

Angela Birks
Mortuary Manager
Based at SRH ext 42418

Where we are based

South Tyneside District Hospital mortuary is located towards the back of the hospital opposite the John Reid Road entrance.

Sunderland Royal Hospital mortuary is located towards the back of the hospital on A level.

How you can contact us

South Tyneside Mortuary 
Internal ext.  4164
External Direct line 0191 2024164

Sunderland Mortuary
Internal ext 42418 
External Direct line 0191 5699042

Useful documents

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