January 3, 2019

Our Own Pathology Service – Northern Pathology Victoria

Happy New Year to you all. I hope that many of you have enjoyed a Christmas and New Year break – and thank you to those who worked over the holiday period caring for our patients.

This month marks a significant milestone in Northern Heath’s growth and development as we open our own pathology service – Northern Pathology Victoria. This is Victoria’s first public in-house laboratory service established in 40 years.

Northern Pathology Victoria’s main laboratory is located at Northern Hospital with a range of pathology and collection services at Bundoora, Broadmeadows, and Craigieburn.

The service will initially provide Haematology, Transfusion Medicine, Microbiology and Biochemistry testing for all in-patients, out-patients and private patients. We will be partnering with Alfred Pathology Service for anatomical pathology and complex testing services, supported by a regular and efficient courier system.

Northern Pathology Victoria will have a specific emphasis on patient safety, clinical efficacy and quality reporting. As part of this commitment, we have purchased cutting edge technology, including a fully automated track system (commencing September 2019) and molecular testing service in microbiology, in addition to setting up a complex special coagulation service with a full suite of testing.

The planning for the process commenced two years ago, and we are pleased to have received provisional accreditation to commence our laboratory services at midnight 8 January 2019.

Congratulations to our pathology team led by Dr. Prahlad Ho and everyone else involved in creating our own pathology service.

 

Siva Sivarajah

Chief Executive

 

Featured image: Dr. Prahlad Ho and Chief Executive Siva Sivarajah

Below image left to right: Chief Scientist Uttam Punj, Meg Ginete, Shamila Ratnayake and Nicole Davidson