Laboratory Haematology

The Combined laboratory covering both clinical haematology and chemistry is a technical wonder. ‘Project Lego’ was completed in 2005 where blood samples are remotely driven around various sites within the laboratory providing a rapid turnaround time for results with a high degree of accuracy for over 2000 haematology samples a day. We have automated haematology, coagulation, blood transfusion and molecular biology laboratories on site. Very few haematology tests are sent to other UK laboratories; we provide virtually all of the diagnostic services a major city hospital requires. The laboratory is staffed by a highly knowledgeable and experienced group of people. Without this valuable people resource the ability to diagnose and treat the multitude of illnesses that pass through the hospital and GP surgeries would be almost impossible.


Staff

Dr Tim Nokes is Clinical Director for Blood and Oncology services. Tim has vast experience in treating coagulation disorders and sits on the National BCSH taskforce for implementing national policies and the BSH executive committee.

Dr Adrian Copplestone is Chairman of the National Transfusion Committee. He has interests in all aspects of blood transfusion, lymphoproliferative disorders (particularly CLL and lymphoma) and coagulation in pregnancy.

Dr Mike Hamon is lead for paediatric haematology services, laboratory haematology and haemoglobinopathies. Mike is the programme director for the Peninsula bone marrow transplant service.

Dr Simon Rule has championed several large clinical trials in lymphoma and is regarded as the leading UK authority in Mantle cell lymphoma. Simon also chairs the BSH National Taskforce for Haematological malignancies.

Dr Hannah Hunter provides the necessary complex knowledge of dealing with acute leukaemia, multiple myeloma and bone marrow transplantation. Hannah is lead for the Peninsula JACIE accreditation; a body that oversees marrow transplant units.

Dr Wayne Thomas has a major interest in bleeding and clotting disorders and with Dr Nokes runs a weekly specialist clinic in bleeding and clotting disorders.

We have five Specialist Registrar doctors (in training for consultant posts) who along with the consultants look after inpatients, outpatients and provide medical cover for the laboratory.

Sisters Bet Leppard and Jane Stamper have a vast experience of the care of haematology patients. They run their own clinics and provide the first point of care for the majority of patients with leukaemia and lymphoma.

Sister Jan Malinowski is the clinical nurse specialist for bleeding disorders coordinating treatment for our patients and reviewing outpatients.

Alison Huggins and Catherine Hall are our Hospital Transfusion Practitioners. They have helped implement national policies with regards to transfusion within the hospital and provide educational support to thousands of people that work in Plymouth NHS Trust and surrounding district hospitals.

Sisters Nicky Crosbie and Becky Riddell-Denton are the Haematology trials nurses. Their experience helps patients understand what it means to be enrolled in a clinical trial and allow us to offer many 'cutting-edge' therapies as part of large national studies.