Pathology

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Clinical Biochemistry, Haematology, Blood Transfusion, Cellular Pathology and Microbiology.

About our service

The Pathology Department sit within the Division of Family and Clinical Support Services within The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust.

The Pathology Department provide a range of services, with laboratories located at Dewsbury and Pinderfields Hospitals, the services as listed below.

  • Dewsbury District Hospital

    • Blood Sciences​

    • Cellular Pathology

  • Pinderfields General Hospital

    • Blood Sciences

    • Microbiology​​

    • Point of Care

There are many areas within pathology, these are:

  • Clinical Biochemistry — measuring a wide range of analytes including renal/liver/cardiac/tumour and bone function tests.  These measurements help in detecting and diagnosing disease and in monitoring treatment.

  • Haematology — this encompasses clinical management of blood disorders, laboratory measurement of cellular components of blood, provision and proper use of transfusion products, and laboratory identification and clinical management of disturbances in haemostasis.

  • Blood Transfusion — this encompasses clinical management of blood disorders, laboratory measurement of cellular components of blood, provision and proper use of transfusion products, and laboratory identification and clinical management of disturbances in haemostasis.

  • Cellular Pathology — asection of Pathology concerned with the study of cells (Cytology) and the study of tissues (Histopathology).

  •  Microbiology — this helps diagnosis and treatment of infection and infectious disease.

 

Where can I have my bloods taken?

The Phlebotomy department is based on all three of our hospital sites - no prior appointment is required and can be accessed Monday-Friday, see below for opening times. Please note, at busy times the tickets may be removed early in order to see the patients already waiting, before the department closes at 4:30pm.

  • Dewsbury District Hospital 8.30am to 4.30pm, located ground floor in the Ridings Building.

  • Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield 10.30am to 4.30pm, located Floor B.

  • Pontefract Hospital, 8.30am to 4.30pm, located Floor A.

  • You can also visit Wakefield Community Diagnostic Centre between 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

 

As all sites are very busy it is recommended that patients attend as early as possible, especially if their blood test is required urgently. It is also advised that children under 8 years of age should be booked in directly with Children's Services.

 

Your GP may have requested you take a fasting blood test. To ensure reliable and accurate test results, it is important that you follow these instructions carefully.

  • Please ensure that you have nothing to eat or drink (other than water) for 8-12 hours prior to presenting for the test.  It is recommended that you fast for 8 hours for a ‘Fasting glucose’ and 10-12 hours for ‘cholesterol/lipid’ testing.

  • Do not fast for any longer than 12 hours, as this may affect your test.

  • Ensure that you drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated.

  • Smoking should be avoided.

  • Continue to take any prescribed medications, unless advised otherwise by your doctor.

Contact Phlebotomy

  • Dewsbury District Hospital - 01924 541000 

  • Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield - 01924 541440.

  • Pontefract Hospital - 01924 541000.

Contact Anticoagulation Department - for Warfarin queries.

  • Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield - 01924 541550 or 01924 541687

Medical directory

The pathology department is where laboratory tests are completed. These play a critical unseen role that help with medical decisions, such as diagnosis and monitoring conditions/diseases.

View our A-Z of Pathology tests:

Medical tests