Pathology is a branch of medical science concerned with the diagnosis of disease and it touches society at every stage of life
From diagnostic testing and treatment advice to the use of cutting-edge genetic technologies and the prevention of disease, the department supports the vast majority of all clinical decisions.
The Pathology Department has a team of just under 40 staff who provide a Pathology service to the Bailiwick of Guernsey including the Islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm, The Medical Specialist Group (MSG) and five local primary healthcare groups, consisting of eleven surgeries.
As well as local testing, the department maintains close relationships with a number of specialist service providers such as Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham Women's Hospital NHS Trust, and Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.
In Guernsey, the five local specialties are Haematology (blood), Clinical Chemistry (bodily fluids), Medical Microbiology (infectious diseases), Cellular Pathology (organs, tissues and cells) and Blood Transfusion.
Glossary of terms
- You may hear one or more of the following terms if you have a test within our health services:
- Clinical Microbiology
- The department grow, identify and determine treatment options for most bacteria. It offers interpretation and advice in the diagnosis, management, treatment of infectious disease. The department also works closely with the HSC's Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPACT) and Sexual Health service providing rapid screening tests for infections.
- Clinical Chemistry
- The largest of the specialities, this section provides tests for renal, liver and cardiac function, therapeutic drugs, immunology, tumour markers and hormones. The team also support the Diabetic service, Blood Donor service and the Sexual Health service by providing all primary screening for Hepatitis, HIV, and Syphilis.
- Cellular Pathology
- This unit is at the heart of Cancer Services for the States of Guernsey and deals with approximately 6000 cases per year. It liaises closely with other UK centres for specialist testing and is an integral part of the team that develop and deliver on-going management and treatment.
- Haematology
- This looks at the elements of the blood and the cells for signs of infection, anaemia or malignancy (cancer). The section also undertakes the investigation of clotting abnormalities, as well as providing support to two large anticoagulant control clinics a week.
- Blood Transfusion
- This unit undertakes two key roles, the processing and provision of blood collected by our nursing team representing the Guernsey Blood Transfusion service, and cross matching, or compatibility testing, to provide safe blood for transfusion.
Contact Us
- Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Le Vauquiedor, St Martins, Guernsey, GY4 6UU
- Tel: 01481 225345
- Opening Times: Mon - Fri 08.30 till 17.00
- Pathology is available to clinicians as an emergency on-call service outside of these hours 365 days a year.
