Nice to get some recognition from the Big Boss....
"The past few months have been a challenge in many ways for everyone and yet you, as a Pathology team, have excelled in so many ways, supporting patients through these difficult times.
We want to highlight this and thank you all for your contribution to these amazing achievements.
Here are a few examples, recognising also that those who not have been directly involved in these activities have covered work for colleagues assigned to these tasks or absent from work due to SARS-COV-2 and thank you for this.
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Microbiology: the Virology team successfully introduced PCR testing for SARS-COV2 and were in the first group to achieve this within the UK. They have gone on to develop and deliver this across a range of platforms, extending working hours to deliver the required testing volumes. The service has supported other regional Trusts with these tests. Medical staff have provided invaluable clinical advice and support for colleagues.
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Cytogenetics: a team of staff set up and delivered high throughput DNA extraction to support the PCR testing in Virology, again extending hours to deliver what is needed for patients.
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Cellular Pathology: a new high capacity mortuary has been set up which provides resilience both for UHL and the region. There is huge potential for developing this, with our interests in CT-PM and forensics, into a flagship service and we are looking to do this.
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Blood Sciences: the Immunology and Chemistry teams, together, have successfully set up and delivered antibody testing for SARS-COV2 at high scale and in super quick time. This service is for staff and patients across locally but will also be rolled out to cover Northamptonshire and north Nottinghamshire. Our specimen reception team are booking in the many thousands of samples expected. The Blood Transfusion service has led in the set-up and support of the trials of convalescent plasma to treat patients with SARS-COV-2 infection as well as delivering the increased demand for blood products often required by these very sick patients. These patients often have complex clotting issues and the Haematology team have supported additional testing relating to this, including trials work ongoing at UHL.
- POCT: worked in partnership with clinical colleagues to provide, implement and train staff needing equipment to support patients with SARS-COV-2 including additional blood gas analysers, stat strips and ACT devices.
Staff working in all labs should be commended for their flexibility in creating different ways of working including the ED lab where staff have maintained TRT while working in a particularly challenging environments .
We are grateful to the medical staff re-assigned to help in ward areas, the stores team, key to ensuring the labs have the equipment needed, the pathology delivery drivers who supported changes in working practices and administrative teams who continue to provide invaluable support for the service.
It’s clearly nowhere near over yet but your dedication, hard work and achievements to this point are something you should be really proud of. Thank you."
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You can get very wrapped up in a "bubble" of just doing the job and lose sight of what you are contributing too both locally, nationally and globally as are many others across the world.