Blood Sciences
The Department of Blood Sciences
The Director of Blood Sciences is Dr Shirley
Bowles, Consultant Chemical Pathologist, and the Deputy
Director is Dr Hilary Leggat, Consultant
Haematologist. Dr Salaheddin Tueger, Consultant
Haematologist, is the clinical lead for Haematology.
The Department provides a full diagnostic laboratory and
clinical service to the Trust and to the local Primary Care
teams.
The Laboratory uses state of the art analysers in all its
laboratories and is fully computerised with electronic order entry.
The department is accredited with CPA (UK) Ltd. A comprehensive
range of tests are provided, including:
- Routine chemistry profiles
- Hormone assays
- Therapeutic drug monitoring
- Screening for Paraproteins (Electrophoresis and
Immunoglobulins)
- Sweat tests for Cystic Fibrosis
- Routine Haematology profiles
- Coagulation and Thrombophilia screening
- Anticoagulant monitoring
- Haemoglobinopathy screening
- Blood film examination
- Bone marrow assessment
- Screening for glandular fever and malaria.
Where appropriate, specimens requiring analysis for unusual and
complex tests aresent to selected referral laboratories.
Clinical Services
The full medical team includes:
- Dr Shirley Bowles,Consultant Chemical
Pathologist, available on ext 5652 or secretary 5365
- Dr Edwin Lee,Consultant Haematologist,
available on ext 5093 or secretary 5390
- Dr Hilary Leggat- Consultant Haematologist,
available on ext 5382 or secretary 5377
- Dr Salaheddin Tueger- Consultant
Haematologist, available on ext 5387 or secretary 5378
- Dr Stephen McKew - Locum Consultant
Haematologist, available via the secretaries 5390/5377/5378
- Dr Emma Lewis- Consultant Clinical Biochemist,
available on ext 5653 or secretary 5365
- Haematology SpR and SHO on rotation
The Consultant Chemical Pathologist runs a Lipid Clinic for
patients with both genetic and secondary dyslipidaemias. There are
general Haematology and Lymphoma Clinics held within the department
and two Anticoagulant Clinics are held each week. Clinical advice
and interpretation of results is always available and contact by
telephone or e-mail to discuss cases is encouraged.
The Blood transfusion Department
The Transfusion Department provides a fully comprehensive
laboratory and clinical service to the Trust. The laboratory has 2
automated blood-grouping analyser and is fully computerised using
the Meditech Pathology System. All tests involved in the provision
of blood and blood products are performed. The Regional Transfusion
Centre (Liverpool) is the reference centre for more complex
serological investigations.
The department works to the specification set out by the NHS
operational impact group in accordance to the Blood Safety and
Quality Regulations 2005. Antenatal testing is done within the
Department and serological and clinical advice is always available.
In accordance with NICE guidelines prophylaxis with Anti-D is now
inplace.
There is a Hospital Transfusion Committee, chaired by Dr Hilary
Leggat, which meets regularly to discuss transfusion issues
associated with the Trust and provides feedback to the Management
Board and the Risk Management Group.
The department is supported by a Senior Transfusion Practitioner,
Louise Hodgkinson, Junior Transfusion Practitioner Trish Brown and
Head Biomedical Scientist (Blood Bank Manager) Kirsteen Scowcroft
whose role includes ensuring safe transfusion practice is performed
within the Trust with particular emphasis on education and
training. The Department is involved in an active audit programme
to ensure that good transfusion practice is maintained.
Electronic issue of blood is being rolled out across the Trust,
thereby improving the turnaround time for availability of blood.