Quality unit

The pathology quality unit at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust is responsible for:

• promoting continuous quality improvement

• ensuring implementation of quality management system (QMS) by all departments

• facilitating the achievement of regulatory and accreditation requirements

• monitoring comments made by service users in response to biannual questionnaires.

We achieve this through:

• internal audits

• assistance and advice for laboratory assessment visits

• training in audit performance

• document control

• construction of quality manual and quality policy

• setting quality objectives and plans

• developing and implementing quality initiatives

• monitoring incidents and complaints

• attending the Trust clinical risk committee

• producing regular newsletters –  Quality Matters and Pathology News.

We also monitor the pathology outpatient performance to make sure it complies with current NHS guidance.