The Ulster Hospital Laboratory analyses an incredible 1.4 million samples every year, producing approximately 6.7 million test results.
Working behind the scenes, Healthcare Scientists and Support Staff play a vital role in the day-to-day treatment and management of diseases.
During National Pathology Week, their crucial contribution to patient care is recognised, highlighting the work they do around the clock, together with Doctors, Nurses and healthcare professionals to aid in the diagnosis, treatment and management of medical conditions.
The laboratories process thousands of samples each day using a Central Specimen Reception, Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology/Blood Transfusion and Microbiology Labs.
South Eastern Trust, Specialist Nutritional Support Dietician and Non-medical Prescriber Pete Turner shared how he and his team, “Couldn’t do our job without Pathology.”
“I work with very, very sick patients who are very malnourished and often we have to feed them intravenously or through tubes placed directly into their gut and Clinical Biochemistry is a key part of this. The patient could be depleted in Potassium, Magnesium and Phosphate and we need to replace it quickly to get the patient better.
“To get the daily blood results of those patients is absolutely crucial, to make sure we are giving the right amounts to that patient.
“We can’t predict what electrolytes we are going to need for the patient without getting those blood results back quickly. The labs are so efficient now, we can get results the same day, often within hours. If we have the blood test we can build up the nutrients.
“Working as a Multi-Disciplinary Team with Pharmacists and Chemical Pathologists we can make sure that preparation of medicines are correct in terms of not give too much sodium and chloride which can be particularly harmful.”
Pete continued, “We couldn’t do our job without Pathology, it would be absolute guess work. I can see the absolute change in patient care in getting in the efficient blood results back. To get timely results really improves patient care and patient flow based on those blood tests.”
South Eastern Trust Laboratory Services Manager Sinead Carty explained how Pathology “is the bridge between science and medicine and underpins many aspects of patient care.”
“Our Laboratory teams are the backbone of our service delivery.”
“We have a team of Healthcare Science assistants and Biomedical Scientists working in the Lab processing samples and authorising results to contribute to patient care as well as Laboratory Clinical staff to provide advice and guidance on all aspects of Pathology.”
“The Laboratories and the hospital do work hand in hand,” added Senior Biomedical Scientist Lisa Booth. “There are three Laboratories in the Ulster Hospital, Clinical Biochemistry where I work, Haematology/Blood Transfusion and Microbiology. In Clinical Biochemistry we run samples from both the community and the hospital and depending on the priority of the sample we have specific turnaround times. For an urgent sample from the hospital we aim to have that back within 90 minutes, so this allows the clinician to act upon the results instantly,” said Lisa.
“For other samples for Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology we have a turnaround time of four hours for patient samples from the wards, so we are working to have those results back in a timely fashion as well.”
Lisa said how often the team are, “behind the scenes” as they are not patient facing but their work is vital. “Without our work in the Laboratory there wouldn’t be diagnosis or monitoring for patient care and without us the Clinicians would be working in the dark.”
Lisa commented, “It is important to mark National Pathology Week as I feel the role that Laboratories undertakes in the diagnosis and monitoring of a patient’s care is so important.”
