Wednesday 02 April 2025
Internal Reference Number: FOI_8315
Date Request Received: 28/11/2024 00:00:00
Date Request Replied To: 21/01/2025 00:00:00
This response was sent via: By Email
Request Summary: Wet Specimen Outsourcing
Request Category: Private Individuals
| Question Number 1: Does the trust/UHB outsource wet surgical specimens? | |
| Answer To Question 1: Yes | |
| Question Number 2: If so, how many specimens are outsourced per annum? | |
| Answer To Question 2: 70 | |
| Question Number 3: What is the subspecialty of the outsourced specimens? E.g. Skin, Endoscopy etc. Please breakdown if possible. | |
| Answer To Question 3: Breast and Gynae | |
| Question Number 4: How much does the trust/UHB spend per annum on outsourced wet specimen processing? Please breakdown for the fiscal years 21/22, 22/23, 23/24. | |
| Answer To Question 4: The Trust do not have the data in enough detail to answer this question. | |
| Question Number 5: Does the trust report in house on wet processed specimens or is this done externally? | |
| Answer To Question 5: The external company dissects and reports the specimens. | |
| Question Number 6: Which organisation(s) does the trust outsource the wet specimen processing to? | |
| Answer To Question 6: Poundbury | |
| Question Number 7: Does the trust/UHB outsource blocks for processing? | |
| Answer To Question 7: No | |
| Question Number 8: How much does the trust spend per annum on outsourced block specimen processing? Please breakdown for the fiscal years 21/22, 22/23, 23/24. | |
| Answer To Question 8: N/A | |
| Question Number 9: Is there a backlog of unreported specimens with the trust/UHB? If so, for how many patients total? | |
| Answer To Question 9: No | |
| Question Number 10: What are the current turnaround times (TAT) for the processing of wet specimens within the trust/UHB? | |
| Answer To Question 10: Unable to respond due to no response to email query sent to requestor on 13th December 2024. | |
| Question Number 11: Does the trust outsource for tissue staining? | |
| Answer To Question 11: No | |
| Question Number 12: How much does the trust/UHB spend on outsourced staining per annum? Please breakdown for the fiscal years 21/22, 22/23, 23/24. | |
| Answer To Question 12: N/A | |
| Question Number 13: What is the current TA for wet reporting externally? | |
| Answer To Question 13: 10-14 days | |
| Question Number 14: Does the trust/UHB have a minimum contracted volume with outsourcers? | |
| Answer To Question 14: No | |
| Question Number 15: What is the min, mean, and max cost for wet work alone? | |
| Answer To Question 15: N/A | |
| Question Number 16: What is the cost for professional external reporting? | |
| Answer To Question 16: About £500K a year | |
| Question Number 17: How many cases are reported by the trust annually? | |
| Answer To Question 17: 18000 | |
| Question Number 18: What percentage is outsourced for professional work? | |
| Answer To Question 18: 30% | |
| Question Number 19: What percentage is outsourced for technical work? | |
| Answer To Question 19: 0% lab work | |
| Question Number 20: How many pathologists does the trust/UHB employ? | |
| Answer To Question 20: 4.5 | |
| Question Number 21: How many cases on average does a single pathologist report annually? | |
| Answer To Question 21: Unsure, work is done on points, so case numbers are not a valid measure. | |
| Question Number 22: Does the trust/UHB have a digital slide scanner? | |
| Answer To Question 22: Yes | |
| Question Number 23: If so, who is the manufacturer of the scanner? e.g. Phillips, Leica etc. | |
| Answer To Question 23: 3DHISTEC | |
| To return to the list of all the FOI requests please click here |
Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of NHS Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
