NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) Case Study

NSW Health Pathology - North (Hunter) Service

NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) is renowned for better practice inventory management and has one of the lowest blood and blood product wastage rates in the country.  Their wastage rate against stock issued for red blood cells was less than 1% for both 2010-11 and 2011-12. These rates are even more impressive given blood deliveries are received from the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood (Lifeblood) Sydney Distribution Centre, a three to four hour drive from the hospital.

NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) is based at the John Hunter Hospital and services the following eleven hospitals in the Hunter Valley, NSW:

  • John Hunter Hospital
  • John Hunter Children’s Hospital
  • Royal Newcastle Centre Hospital
  • Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
  • Belmont Hospital
  • Maitland Hospital
  • Cessnock Hospital
  • Tomaree Hospital
  • Muswellbrook Hospital
  • Singleton Hospital, and
  • Scott Memorial Hospital.

So what makes NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) Different?

The NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) laboratory staff at the John Hunter Hospital are responsible for maintaining the ordering, delivery and inventory management of blood and blood products for all the hospitals serviced by NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) in the Hunter Valley.

Careful vigilance and tight control of the blood and blood product inventory have been achieved through the involvement of laboratory scientists, Greg Irwin, Bridget Partridge and Vicki Martens.

The team have identified the following four key areas which they believe allows for the success of this system:

For more information

For more information about NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) and the team at John Hunter contact:

Mr Greg Irwin

For a pdf version of the content on this page download the John Hunter Case Study Factsheet (pdf) (1.38 MB).

Acknowledgements

• The National Blood Authority extends their appreciation to NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter), John Hunter Hospital and Maitland Hospital for their willing contributions and involvement in the development of this case study. In particular:
• Dr Stephen Braye: CEO NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter)
• Mr Gregory Irwin: Senior Hospital Scientist, NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter)John Hunter Hospital
• Ms Bridget Partridge: Senior Technical Officer, NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter)John Hunter Hospital
• Ms Vicki Martens: Senior Hospital Scientist, NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) John Hunter Hospital
• Dr Michael Seldon: Director of Haematology, Hunter New England Local Health Network
• Ms Ann Barrett: Senior Scientist, NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter) Maitland Hospital
• Ms Kim Lechner: Hospital Scientist, NSW Health Pathology – North (Hunter)Maitland Hospital

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