Basingstoke and north hampshire hospital pathology user handbook

Foetuses
Foetuses
All Foetuses under 14 weeks must be taken to Histology. Foetuses delivered out of normal hours should be refrigerated at 4 degrees Celsius in the department and sent to Histopathology at 09:00hr the next working day.
The Mortuary at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital will be the receiving area for all specimens over 14 weeks. Foetuses will not be accepted without a pregnancy loss and infant death form, Infant Release form, Notification Plan and a completed Pathology request form if it is required for Histology. All foetuses must be sent fresh without formalin. If private burial is required it MUST be noted on the request card.
Parental consent is required before Histological examination can be carried out and a completed Post Mortem consent form must be sent with the request card with any other documents according to the current protocols. The placenta should accompany (also sent fresh). If the foetus needs a Post Mortem examination it will be sent to Southampton General University Hospital. Results will usually be known two weeks after the foetus has been sent.
Viewings
During Core hours
Viewings can be arranged between the hours of 10:00am and 16:00pm and should be arranged via the Patient & Relative Support Manager (ext.4777 Bleep 1100). They will then contact the Mortuary to arrange a specific time for the relatives to attend. Viewings are assigned 45 minute sessions in the Mortuary to attempt to accommodate all requests. The 45 minute session is when the relatives may be within the viewing area and does not start from when they arrive on site. Late arrivals may be allowed an extra 15 minutes depending on workload. The last available time for a viewing will be at 15:15.
Allowance is made for the Maternal and Child Health Division and times may be booked outside these hours with prior arrangement with the Mortuary (ext. 4749)
Outside of Core Hours
An out of hours viewing service operates on weekends and Bank Holidays between 11:00 and 16:00. Monday to Friday all viewing arrangements must be made within the core hours.
Viewing arrangements discussed outside of these times will be solely at the discretion of the on call Pathology Technician due to other essential Trust commitments provided by the Mortuary department.
A minimum of 1 hours notice must be given before any arrangement can take place out of hours.
To arrange a viewing out of hours the on call Pathology Technician must be contacted through the Hospital Bleep Holder on bleep 1436. Once a time has been arranged the relatives should make themselves known to the receptionist at the Hospital main entrance on B floor. The On call Pathology Technician will then meet the relatives at the main entrance and escort them to the Mortuary.
When arranging a viewing you must clearly indicate that the time agreed is the time that the relatives should be at the main entrance, and that the appointment is for 45 minutes.