Pathology

Pathology is the study of disease, its causes and progression. Nearly every patient in the NHS has had dealings with pathology services at some point. Every time you give a blood, stool, urine or tissue sample, it is analysed by a pathologist or pathology scientist.

Our pathology service includes medical, biomedical scientists and laboratory assistants who are involved in the analysis of around 4.6 million patient tests a year.

Pathologists look for abnormalities within samples, but quite often these tests are performed to confirm everything is normal. Screening tests can help with the early detection of potentially fatal conditions, such as cancer. Pathology plays a major role in research, such as finding treatments for cancer and inherited conditions, developing vaccines against infectious diseases, or ensuring that blood transfusions are safe.

Pathology services provided at Medway Maritime Hospital include:

• blood transfusion laboratory
• endocrinology
• general biochemistry
• haematology
• metabolic disorders
• therapeutic drug monitoring

We also work in partnership with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust’s pathology team.