INFORMATION FOR GPs – MARCH 2015 CHANGES TO MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY SERVICES AT KINGSTON The development of South West London Pathology (SWLP) is based on a modern, integrated hub and spoke laboratory service across the three hospitals forming the partnership. The next phase of this programme took place in December 2014 when MICROBIOLOGY laboratory services at Kingston were incorporated into the SWLP hub laboratory based at St George’s Hospital. As expected with moving such a large, complex service there have been a few teething problems and these are being resolved as quickly as possible. In the meantime you may see an increase in turnaround times of one or two days so please bear with us, check for electronic results and please wait a day or two before sending a fax request. All clinically urgent results for MICROBIOLOGY will be telephoned back to the requestor. There may have been some confusion about the new MICROBIOLOGY arrangements and how you access the service and we apologise if that has been the case. We are improving the way we communicate such changes and as part of that we have produced a one page guide that you can use as a reference. Next In the next edition of this newsletter we will provide information on other changes to pathology services and when these are going to take place. The current plan is that during summer 2015 the GP direct access laboratory service for haematology and biochemistry will start to move across to the South West London Pathology hub. In the meantime, if you would like more information about any aspect of the SWLP programme or have any queries or concerns please contact Claire Kennedy, Communications Manager, at or 020 8725 0910.
Keep sending ALL your samples to Kingston Hospital as usual MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY SERVICES Access to clinical advice for MICROBIOLOGY Access to clinical advice for MICROBIOLOGY has NOT changed – to contact a Kingston Hospital microbiology consultant, call Kingston Hospital switchboard (020 8546 7711) and ask to be put through to the duty microbiology consultant in Kingston. Urgent results for MICROBIOLOGY All clinically urgent results for MICROBIOLOGY will be telephoned back to the requestor. Electronic results for MICROBIOLOGY Electronic results for MICROBIOLOGY will be available via PMIP reports Please check for electronic results BEFORE requesting them by fax. Checking electronically first will mean you get the result quickly and you will not need to spend time faxing or telephoning us. If you have GP Order Comms installed, MICROBIOLOGY results will also be available in Indigo Review. Contact details for MICROBIOLOGY results Telephone: 020 8725 5693 PATHOLOGY SERVICES NOW AT THE SWLP HUB LABORATORY BASED AT ST GEORGE’S HOSPITAL: Service Results number Clinical advice Microbiology 020 8725 5693 Kingston switchboard 020 8546 7711 and ask for duty consultant Gynaecology Cytology 020 8725 5266 020 8725 5266 PATHOLOGY SERVICES STILL BASED AT KINGSTON HOSPITAL Service Results number Clinical advice Fax number Histology/Non Gynae Cytology 020 8934 2239 020 8934 2239 020 8934 3288 Biochemistry 020 8934 2029 / 2031 020 8934 2052 020 8934 3289 Immunology 020 8934 2029 / 2031 020 8934 2052 020 8934 3289 Transfusion 020 8934 2046 / 2047 Kingston switchboard 020 8546 7711 and ask for duty consultant 020 8934 3289 Haematology 020 8934 2029 / 2031 Kingston switchboard 020 8546 7711 and ask for duty consultant 020 8934 3289