Results
It is our aim to issue results in a timely manner. WinPath results are available via Maxims, WinPath Ward Enquiry and ICE. Reports will be issued back to users in line with the RCHT Pathology turnaround time expectations and guidelines as detailed specific agreements.
Please contact Cornwall IT Services (CITS) on 01209 881717 to gain access to these systems.
All results are typed into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) (WinPath) and made available for all individuals registered with CITS to view in Maxims or ICE, once the report has been authorised and released.
Results by Telephone (Blood sciences only)
It is the responsibility of the requesting clinician to promptly review and act on the results of every investigation they request. The laboratory phoning policy acts as a safety net for the highlighting of ‘critically significant’ findings, as defined by the laboratory. Other results (not part of the laboratory telephone policy) are reviewed by the Clinical Biochemists and phoned at their discretion. The laboratory cannot guarantee, or be held responsible, for telephoning all clinically significant results.
Non-urgent advice: Please note
If results are requested by phone, it is important to only use 01872 252540 or 01872 252548 (extension 2540 or 2548).
We appreciate that there may be a need to telephone for results but would ask that this is kept to a minimum.
Please try to telephone in the morning whenever possible.
Results which are markedly abnormal will always be telephoned. Most standard GP test results are available on the next working day. Certain tests are done in weekly batches and others are referred to other centres and will therefore take longer to report (see Pathology repertoire table).
Inpatient results for standard tests (e.g. FBC & Coagulation) will usually be available within two hours of laboratory receipt.
INR results are reported to GPs via GP link by 18:30 on the day of receipt provided the request is received by 16:30.
As a safeguard all INRs over 5 are automatically telephoned and verbally communicated by laboratory staff to the relevant surgery or NHS Kernow Health as appropriate. Telephone requests for results should be avoided whenever possible. Surgeries are asked to check their IT systems before telephoning the lab.
Where an urgent telephone request for an essential individual result is received from a source without computer access to results, the INR will be communicated on the basis of patient identification using three points of reference (Name, Date of Birth, and Address) after verification of the patient’s NHS number.
Telephone requests for multiple results will be advised to await transmission of results by GP link as the risk of a transcription error is raised. A delay in notification to the patient in most cases of 1 – 2 days is satisfactory (British Society for Haematology – BSH guidelines)