Department of Cellular Pathology

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Cellular Pathology - University Hospitals Birmingham

Cellular Pathology is based across UHB sites at QE Hospital Birmingham, at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospital and at Good Hope Hospital.

The majority but not all of Cellular Pathology tests that are performed and equipment in use are accredited to internationally recognised standards for medical laboratories ISO 15189.  This is important for the Department and for service users as it provides assurance on quality and competence.   There is increasingly an integrated approach across  the different UHB hospital sites where staff, equipment and testing may be shared to deliver the highest possible quality services to our service users. The full range and nature of accredited tests is detailed on the United Kingdom Accreditation Service website https://www.ukas.com 10141 Schedule of Accreditation .

The Department is currently supporting the Trust with significant increases in clinical activity.  For some specialties reporting times have fallen bellow targets and so the Department is working with service users to minimise the impact of this.  The Department is prioritising clinically urgent requests and patients on cancer pathways, recruiting and working additional sessions.  The Department is also outsourcing reporting of some requests to two external specialist UKAS Accredited suppliers that hold contracts with the Trust.

Specialist Services  within Cellular Pathology (by site), QE=Queen Elizabeth, BHH=Birmingham Heartlands, SH = Solihull, GH=Good Hope

  • MOHS (QE, SH) -   microscopically controlled surgery used to treat common types of skin cancer. 
  • Neuropathological Smears (QE) -  rapid diagnostic service for intra-operative brain tissue specimens
  • Cytopathology (BHH,QE) - diagnostic cytopathology services for the Trust including fine needle aspirations, endoscopic brushings and washings, EUS-FNAs , serous fluids urines and CSF.  
  • Muscle Biopsy Service (QE) -  part of the investigation of a clinically suspected neuromuscular disorder when other less invasive tests have not provided a firm diagnosis.
  • Electron Microscopy Service (QE) - used routinely at magnifications of between 1500 and 70,000 times to examine the ultrastructure of cells and their surroundings.   
  • Andrology (GHH) - Diagnostic, Post Vasectomy and Retrograde  Semen analysis .  The service operates from a single site located on the 1st Floor of the Sheldon Unit at Good Hope Hospital.
  • Direct Immunofluorescence (BHH and QE) - Direct immunofluorescence is used for the detection of  tissue bound proteins such as antibodies and complement proteins. Two types of tissue, skin or renal, are processed, This method allows for the detection of tissue bound antibodies when there may be insufficient levels to detect in serum.  
  • Mortuary (QE, BHH, SH, GH) - Body storage available on all sites with 10 freezer storage spaces available on the Solihull sites and 16 on the QE site.  Post Mortems can be carried out on the Heartlands and QE sites.    
  • Immunohistochemistry (QE, BHH) - carried out using different platforms and antibodies across the sites.  See attached UKAS scope for those antibodies accredited.  At present there are a few antibodies that are not yet accredited but will be added to the scope in due course.  

 

For further information refer to:

QEHB Pathology Departments - Cellular Pathology

 

CONTACTS:

Contact the Cellular Pathology Department

Heartlands 0121 424 3190 =  heartlandshistooffice@uhb.nhs.uk

QE 0121 371 3326 = uhb.cellpath@nhs.net

Bone and soft tissue tumour unit = uhb.cellpath@nhs.net 

Clinical Service Lead - Cellular Pathology

Dr Bruce Tanchel

0121 424 2196 or bruce.tanchel@uhb.nhs.uk

Human Tissue Authority Designated Individual

Dr Rachel Brown (Post Mortem Licence - QE)

Dr Gerald Langman (Post Mortem Licence - BHH/GH)

0121 371 3339  or rachel.brown@uhb.uk

0121 424 3189 or Gerald.Langman@uhb.nhs.uk

Cellular Pathology - Head Biomedical Scientist

Saeeda Kauser

0121 371 3343  or saeeda.kauser@uhb.nhs.uk 

8a Operational Managers /Deputy Head Biomedical Scientists  - cross site roles include:

Becci Taylor (Cytology, Andrology and Office Lead)

Jane Gilbert (Main Lab Lead)

Gavin Rock (IHC/Special stains Lead)

Rizwan Qamar (Dissection/Bone & Soft Tissue Tumours)

Bev Whitehouse (Electron Microscopy Lead)

 CellPathDutyManager@uhb.nhs.uk or specific contacts as below:

0121 371 3336  or Rebecca.Taylor@uhb.nhs.uk

0121 424 3188  or jane.gilbert@uhb.nhs.uk

0121 424 0189  or gavin.rock@uhb.nhs.uk

0121 371 3352  or rizwan.Qamar@uhb.nhs.uk

0121 371 5720 or beverley.whitehouse@uhb.nhs.uk

Mortuary Manager / Quality lead 

Katie Dias

QEHB 0121 371 2520/2523 or BHH 0121 424 2197

katie.dias@uhb.nhs.uk 

Tissue Services (Human Applications)

Alexandra Martin

0121 371 6838 or alexandra.martin@uhb.nhs.uk

Quality Lead

Vacant (QE Based)

Joanne Small (BHH Based)

0121 371 5968 or vacant 

0121 424 3832 or Joanne.small2@uhb.nhs.uk

Training Lead

Hannah Mckenna (Cross site)

Tracy Bright (QE based)

 0121 424 1191 / 0121 371 3314  or hannah.mckenna@uhb.nhs.uk 

0121 371 3314 tracy.bright@uhb.nhs.uk

Health and Safety Lead

Rizwan Qamar

Joanne Small

 0121 371 3314 Rizwan.Qamar@uhb.nhs.uk

0121 424 3832 or Joanne.small2@uhb.nhs.uk 

Muscle Service

Ferhana Maqsood

 0121 371 5720 Ferhana.Maqsood@uhb.nhs.uk

Andrology

Emma Whitehouse

0121 424 9717 andrology@uhb.nhs.uk

Cytology

Shabnam Latif

0121 424 1191 shabnam.latif@uhb.nhs.uk

Electron Microscopy

Beverley Whitehouse

0121 371 3352 beverley.whitehouse@uhb.nhs.uk