Procedure for Requesting Additional Blood Sciences Tests

(Biochemistry, Haematology and Immunology)

We are aware that on occasion it is necessary to request additional tests for a sample already in the laboratory.

Method of requesting

Requests may be received via either ICE mail or by telephone. 
ICE mail add-ons are actioned 24hrs per day. For urgent requests contact the laboratory directly, for all other requests please use ICE mail.

Lab contact details

• External call 0117 414 8383, select option 2
• Internal call ext. 48383, select option 2
• External call to Switchboard 0117 9505050
• Biochemistry (Bleeps. 9436 or 9437) 
• Haematology (Bleeps. 9433).

Biochemistry and Haematology Lab Routine Opening Hours

• Weekdays, weekends and Bank Holidays 08:00 - 21:30

Out of hours

• Weekdays, weekends and Bank Holidays 21:30 - 08:00

Immunology laboratory

• Weekdays 08:00 - 16:00

We will accommodate additional requests where possible, provided that:

• The appropriate specimen type with sufficient sample remaining is available for the requested test.
• The test does not require special specimen handling.

To request an additional test, please provide following information

• Sample Number (available on ICE, instructions here-  

• Name of patient
• Tests to be added
• Name and phone number of requester

If the add-on test is urgent, ensure this is communicated to the lab when requesting the add-on. Please follow the guides below.

Guidelines for Additional Requests

After 3 days, samples are likely to have been discarded.

Please note that requesting an additional test is not appropriate for Antimicrobial or Microbiology assays.

To contact North Bristol NHS Trust via a British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter:

All your appointment letters should provide a phone number and email address. If you wish to contact us via a BSL interpreter please use our Interpreters Live BSL Video Relay Service to connect to Outpatients, PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) or the switchboard, who will guide you to the department you need. 

Let us know your access / communication needs:

Do you need access support to communicate, such as an interpreter or lip speaker? Do you need information in a different format? Or do you need us to contact you a certain way?

Please let us know your needs. You can contact the number or email on your letter or you can use Interpreters Live BSL Video Relay Service. If you have any issues, please contact our PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) through Interpreters Live or email: pals@nbt.nhs.uk

Accessible Information Standard:

Deaf patients and carers have the right to request access support to communicate and understand information. The Accessible Information Standard legislation ensures you have access, you can find out more about this in this BSL video:

Need help fast:

If it is not a 999 emergency but you are experiencing an immediate health crisis, contact NHS 111:  

• NHS 111 Text relay - Call 18001 111 using the Relay UK app or a textphone. Find out how to use the Relay UK app or a textphone on the Relay UK website.
• NHS 111 BSL Video Relay - signvideo.co.uk/nhs111

Emergency help:

If you are at immediate risk of harm and need to contact 999 you can use:

• 999 BSL – Emergency Video Relay Service for Deaf People 
• Relay UK or emergencySMS (please note you must register your phone for emergencySMS before you can use it).

Severn Pathology (North Bristol NHS Trust Pathology Sciences and UKHSA Bristol Laboratory) is committed to setting and achieving high quality standards that meet the needs and requirements of its users.

Severn Pathology will:

• Operate a quality management system to integrate the organisation, procedures, processes, and resources, and ensure this is continually reviewed for fitness for purpose.
• Ensure that personnel comply with the policies of North Bristol NHS Trust and UK Health Security Agency as required.
• Establish and review quality objectives and plans to implement this quality policy and to achieve continual quality improvement.
• Ensure that all personnel are familiar with this quality policy and comply with the quality manual and all procedures relevant to their work to ensure user satisfaction.
• Encourage good communication between all staff.
• Commit to the health, safety, and welfare of its staff.  Visitors to the department will be treated with respect, and due consideration will be given to their safety while on site.
• Commit to comply with relevant environmental legislation.
• Uphold professional values and be committed to good professional practice and conduct.

Severn Pathology will comply with the requirements of all relevant regulatory bodies, population screening programmes, the Data Protection Act 2018, and ISO 15189; and is committed to:

• The treatment of patients, samples and remains with due care and respect.
• Identification and mitigation of actual and potential risks to patient care.
• Staff recruitment, training, development and retention at all levels to provide a full and effective service to its users.
• The proper procurement and maintenance of such equipment and other resources as are needed for the provision of the service.
• The collection, transport and handling of all specimens in such a way as to ensure the correct performance of laboratory examinations.
• The use of examination procedures that will ensure the acceptable quality of all tests performed and are fit for their intended use.
• Reporting results of examinations in ways which are timely, confidential, accurate and clinically useful.
• The assessment of patient and user satisfaction, in addition to internal audit and external quality assessment, as part of its commitment to continual quality improvement.
• Providing a comprehensive diagnostic service for Pathology, incorporating a number of national reference laboratories.
• The safe and timely provision of blood and blood products, initiation of recall and the external reporting (SABRE scheme) of transfusion related incidents. 

Signed by:   

Mr D. Fisher, Pathology Services Director

Mr J. Steer, UK Health Security Agency Regional Head of Operations 

Accessing NHS Careers Mentoring scheme

We offer support and training to help you get into employment. 

You will have an assigned mentor and access to many optional training sessions, all to get you closer to your dream career!

What we can offer you

A mentor

Your mentor will help you to develop a plan to achieve your goals, and support you along the way.

Courses and Qualifications

We can offer maths, English, IT, Employability and much more!

Practical Experience

We can arrange work experience and shadowing in your chosen career

Career Guidance

We offer career guidance, from CV preparation and simulated interviews to help with apprenticeships and further study.

Register

To register visit https://forms.office.com/e/PveinnCeyU or email Dre.Williams@nbt.nhs.uk

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is working in partnership with NBNHST to deliver the Mayoral Priority Skills Fund. This find provides flexible grant to meet the current priority skills gaps in the region. This project is funded/part -funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. For more information visit www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/employment-skills/mayoral-priority-skills-fund and www.skillsconnect.org.uk 

Being an anchor in our Community is one of our key Trust objectives. This in an important part of our Trust strategy, launched in February 2023 with our overall aim of delivering outstanding patient experience. An overview of the strategy can be found on the Trust Strategy page. 

We take pride in being an ‘Anchor in our Community’ and the Commitment to our Community improvement priority focuses on how we can reduce inequalities, improve health outcomes and how we can make sure that our staff are truly representative of the communities that we serve in and around Bristol. 

We have recently launched our Commitment to Our Community Plan which aims to:

• Focus on increasing the number of people employed at NBT from our local communities, particularly supporting people from an ethnic minority background and those from socio-economically disadvantaged areas in and around Bristol.
• Address recruitment disparities for candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds where the data tells us that people are less likely to be appointed from shortlisting.

What do we plan to do?

• Work with our local schools, colleges, councils, and community areas to provide mentoring and skills support for local residents into employment, apprenticeship, and career opportunities at NBT.
• Provide a range of support to help people become work ready and improve their employability skills.
• Review our current recruitment processes to make sure that they are accessible and equitable and introduce more targeted recruitment and selection interventions that reduce the disparity that exists.
• Work with a range of disadvantaged groups to support them into employment, apprenticeship, and career opportunities at NBT.

What can you do?

Explore our career opportunities on the Careers page, we have a wide range of roles to suit your interest and work in an environment that gives you the chance to make a difference every single day. 

If you would like to find out more about the Commitment to Our Community Plan and what support is available to you, please contact our careers inbox for any inquiries: careers@nbt.nhs.uk

Ongoing Commitment

This plan is just one part of our Commitment to Our Community to support and engage with our local areas. Stay tuned for more initiatives and updates as we continue to build a stronger, more inclusive community together.

Together, we can make a real difference.

Departmental Secretaries
Telephone: 0117 4148396

Immunology Laboratory
Telephone: 0117 4148378

Cellular Immunology/Immunophenotyping
Telephone: 0117 4148377

Tissue Typing
Telephone: 0117 4148375

Dr Mark Gompels
Consultant Immunologist
Telephone: 0117 4148396

Dr Sarah Johnston
Consultant Immunologist
Telephone: 0117 4148396

Dr Alexandros Grammatikos
Consultant Immunologist
Telephone: 0117 4148396

Dr Phil Bright
Consultant Immunologist
Telephone: 0117 4148396

Dr Adrian Heaps
Head of Department
Telephone: 0117 4148473

Sarinder Day
Lead Clinical Scientist Immunogenetics
Telephone: 0117 4148365

Nigel Noel
Lead Health Care Scientist Flow Cytometry
Telephone: 0117 4148561

Allison Brixey
Blood Sciences Laboratory Manager
Telephone: 0117 4148416

Joanne Skingley
Blood Sciences Operations Manager
Telephone: 0117 4148498

Cosmia Mutton
Quality Manager
Telephone: 0117 4148372

For Allergy and Immunology clinical advice, the clinicians and nursing team can be contacted:
1. via the secretaries on 0117 4143456, 9-5, no on-call service provided
2. via switchboard to our individual mobiles if clinician specific advice required, 9-5
3. via the immunology SpR bleep 9287, 9-5, no on-call service provided

General public enquiries should be directed to your GP in the first instance.

An Exhibition within the atrium of the Brunel, showcasing our staff in the work environment. Photos were captured Kian Swainston and Carla Mabb, UWE Bristol Photography students.