The Care Quality Commission

Archived: The Winterbourne Hospital

Pathology Department, Herringston Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2DR (01305) 263252

Provided and run by:
The Doctors Laboratory Limited

All Inspections

17 October 2011

During a routine inspection

The pathology laboratory does not provide a direct service to patients but we asked the views of staff at the hospital, that uses the service. They told us that they were very satisfied with the pathology service provided by The Doctors Laboratory. They had seen improvements since The Doctors Laboratory took over the service, including better access to tests outside working hours. Electronic reporting of results allowed instant access to results from any computer in the hospital, even out of working hours.

We found that the laboratory service was provided by appropriately trained and experienced staff to undertake the pathology service provided. There was appropriate equipment to undertake the range of pathology tests, and this is checked on a daily basis. The accuracy of the results of pathology tests was checked on a regular basis, using the expertise of specialist consultants.