The South of Tyne and Wear Clinical Pathology Service (SoTW CPS), part of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, has achieved national recognition by maintaining its prestigious ISO 15189:2012 accreditation. This international standard ensures medical laboratories meet high-quality requirements for accuracy and competence, which is essential for excellent patient care.
In a standout achievement, SoTW CPS is one of only five services in the entire UK accredited for Point of Care Testing (POCT). This means they can perform rapid, reliable tests directly at the patient’s bedside, which is especially important in urgent situations where quick results are needed. Additionally, SoTW CPS has been accredited in the specialised field of Andrology, placing them among a small number of services in the country with this expertise.
The accreditation followed a detailed review by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), which praised the laboratory’s commitment to continuous improvement and the high level of staff engagement. The assessors were particularly impressed by the lab’s strong internal audits and quality assurance processes, which ensure that they consistently meet the highest standards in diagnostic testing.
A member of the SoTW CPS team said:
We are thrilled to be recognised for our ongoing efforts to deliver top-quality diagnostics. This accreditation reflects our dedication to improving patient care and ensuring the highest standards in all areas of our service.
SoTW CPS is also well-prepared for the future as it transitions to the updated ISO 15189:2022 standard. By proactively completing a gap analysis and planning ahead, the service is ensuring it will continue to be a leader in pathology and diagnostics for years to come.
This recognition highlights SoTW CPS’s role as a trusted provider of diagnostic services in the region, delivering accurate, timely, and reliable results to support the best possible patient care.