Service Quality
Quality is the organising principle of the NHS.
This is no truer than in the RUH Pathology department. By quality we mean "delivering the right result, at the right time, to the right person". It also means that we take into careful consideration the needs and requirements of our service users and work to ensure that our service is "fit for purpose".
To enable us to do this we have developed a Quality Management System, which includes the requirement for staff to be trained to work to set procedures. They are also required to report errors and incidents as they are detected and participate in improvement projects. Any complaints or compliments received by the department are also reported and investigated as appropriate.
All staff are actively encouraged to make suggestions about how to improve the service and to participate in audit exercises. Through the Quality Management System, the Pathology Management review and monitor all these aspects in order to ensure continual improvement.
We would also like to hear your views, good or bad, to help us improve our service. Please use 'Take our Survey' to let us have your feedback. There is a comments box at the bottom of this short survey for you to use. Or alternatively if you have a concern or complaint please click on the Raising a Concern tab and follow the Complaints Procedure.
To show that our service is of a high quality, we undergo assessment with United Kingdom Accreditation Service against the international medical laboratory standard ISO 15189:2012.
For a list of our accredited tests please visit the UKAS website via the following link:
From time to time, amendments to this scope may be required; examples include addition of new tests or changes to test methodology. In such cases, the department will apply for Extension to Scope (ETS) from UKAS. The following tests are currently in/or require this process to be undertaken: