The Northern England Haemato-Oncology Diagnostic Service (NEHODS) brings together expertise in flow cytometry, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and immunophenotyping. With a centralised specimen reception based in the Royal Victoria Infirmary site of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and integrated laboratory services, NEHODS aims to improve outcomes for patients within Northern England by providing cost-effective and timely results for diagnosis, prognostication and monitoring of haematological malignancies.

We provide fully integrated laboratory reports for Clinical Haematologists across the region.

Location

NEHODS
Flow Laboratory, Blood Sciences
Level 3, Leazes Wing
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Richardson Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP
0191 2825028

Specimens
Specimens are to be sent to NEHODS specimen reception using a NEHODS Diagnostic Kit (distributed from NEHODS Centralised Specimen Reception) along with a request form.

NEHODS Diagnostic kit
Transport box, UN3373 PathoShield 8 (pre-labelled with the address above)
Sealable, internal bag. (Unique tracking number may be used)
2 x 4 ml EDTA tubes
1 x 5 ml Lithium Heparin tube for cytogenetics
2 x 5 slide transport containers

Request form
Request forms are to be printed from within Haemosys (www.haemosys.com) or here.  Please ensure one copy of the request form for each type of specimen is included in the box.

If the patient sample has not been entered into Haemosys, please click here to download a blank request form.  Please ensure all patient demographic information, clinical details and date and time of sample are clearly indicated.

Results
Integrated reporting of Haemato-Oncology cases within the Northern Region is delivered using Haemosys software (AES Group Ltd).
Please contact NEHODS if you require access to Haemosys.
Please note that we cannot issue results to patients.

NEHODS Laboratory Working Hours – Monday to Friday  08:30-17:30
Out of hours – An on call service is available for clinically urgent requests. This is where there is an immediate need to start treatment. This service is accessed by contacting the on-call consultant haematologist on call through the Newcastle Hospitals switchboard (Telephone: 0191 233 6161). This should be done before the sample is taken.

Contacts
NEHODS Centralised Specimen Reception (for all enquiries)
Telephone: 0191 282 5028,
Fax:     0191 282 0090
Email: tnu-tr.nehods@nhs.net

Dr Chris Kettle, NEHODS Operational Manager,
Telephone 0191 9177446,
Email: c.kettle@nhs.net

Flow Cytometry,  Helen Watson, Head of Flow Cytometry,
Telephone 0191 282 5078,
Email: helen.watson9@nhs.net

Cancer Cytogenetics, Mr Gavin Cuthbert, Head of Cancer Cytogenetics
Telephone 0191 241 8703,
Email: gavin.cuthbert@nhs.net

Molecular Genetics, Dr David Bourn, Head of Molecular Genetics,
Telephone 0191 241 8775,
Email: david.bourn@nhs.net

Cellular Pathology,  Sarah Leigh Nicholson, Laboratory Manager Cellular Pathology,
Telephone 0191 282 9120
Email: sarah-leigh.nicholson1@nhs.net