Assured quality

Strict internal and external quality assure the integrity of our service.

Quality management, in accordance with the appropriate accreditation and regulatory bodies, is of the highest importance to Spire Pathology Services. All of our laboratories, plus all laboratories to which we refer, are Clinical Pathology Accreditation UK (CPA) accredited and where relevant, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) compliant and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) accredited.

Our commitment

Spire Pathology Services is committed to planning, organising and directing the quality management system in all Spire laboratories within the network, in accordance with appropriate accreditation and regulatory bodies.

In accordance with strict internal and external quality assurance we are committed to the following:

Spire pathology Services are working with UKAS towards the ISO 15189 standards

Ensuring evidence is available to ensure full compliance with relevant standards
ensuring sufficient resources are devoted to quality to enable continual improvement of service
to ensure that every laboratory and advisory services meet the needs of the user.

We are going to ensure we fulfil our commitments by:

committing to an audit schedule, designed to ensure all standards are met
reporting to a monthly meeting where the quality management system is reviewed and discussed. This includes a review of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA), Quality Control (QC) and External Quality Assessment (EQA) returns in addition to any analytical issues such as turnaround times, audits, training and adverse events
agreeing and monitoring quality indicators designed to improve our services to all our customers.

In accordance with strict internal and external quality assurance we are committed to the following:

ensuring evidence is available to ensure full compliance with relevant standards
ensuring sufficient resources are devoted to quality to enable continual improvement of service
to ensure that every laboratory and advisory services meet the needs of the user.

We are going to ensure we fulfil our commitments by:

committing to an audit schedule, designed to ensure all standards are met
reporting to a monthly meeting where the quality management system is reviewed and discussed. This includes a review of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA), Quality Control (QC) and External Quality Assessment (EQA) returns in addition to any analytical issues such as turnaround times, audits, training and adverse events
agreeing and monitoring quality indicators designed to improve our services to all our customers.

Good laboratory quality management is key to delivering a first class pathology service. The Spire pathology quality management group is responsible for coordinating the quality management system for Spire Pathology Services.

The quality management group’s activities include but are not limited to the following.

A monthly review meeting where the quality management system is reviewed and discussed. This includes a review of Internal Quality Assurance (IQA), Quality Control (QC) and External Quality Assessment (EQA) returns in addition to any analytical issues such as turn around times, audits, training and adverse events.
Any quality performance indicator that is considered to be outside the limits set by either NQM, the IQA provider, or the EQA scheme organiser, is highlighted and dealt with quickly and decisively.
A strict regime of internal and external quality assurance underpins the integrity of our service, and we participate in all relevant national external quality assessment schemes.

Spire Pathology Services is committed to providing the highest quality pathology service to all our customers, across all disciplines. To this end and where applicable our laboratories are registered with Clinical Pathology Accreditation UK (CPA), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Working towards UKAS ISO15189 accreditation.

The scope of services provided by Spire Pathology Services includes allergy, biochemistry including special chemistry, blood transfusion, coagulation, cytology, endocrinology, haematology, histology, immunology, microbiology and virology.
There are contracts in place to ensure all other requests for sample testing are carried out by accredited laboratories.
Spire Pathology Services keeps the needs of our clients at the heart of all we do as measured through our user survey, internal audit and external quality assessment.
Spire Pathology Services operates a quality management system to integrate the organisation’s procedures, processes and resources. Quality objectives and plans are set in order to implement this quality policy and achieve continual quality improvement.
Spire Pathology Services ensures that all staff are familiar with and have access to the quality manual and standard operating procedures, helping to ensure best practice
Good professional practice is also supported through appropriate staff recruitment, training and by encouraging and facilitating continuous professional development.
Spire Pathology Services is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of all staff and visitors through good laboratory practice.
Spire Pathology Services commits to comply with relevant environmental legislation through departmental audit, management review, training and adherence to standard operating procedures.
Spire Pathology Services will comply with standards set by CPA (UK) Ltd