We are delighted that Kirsty Blackman MP, SNP, Aberdeen North, has visited the laboratories at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian, to see first-hand the work undertaken by the pathology and laboratory staff from across a range of pathology specialties.

Dr Bernie Croal, College President, and Dr Noah El Sakka, College Vice President for Communications, welcomed Ms Blackman and led the tour of laboratory departments including microbiology and virology labs, the clinical biochemistry lab and the histopathology lab. 

Ms Blackman met and spoke with laboratory staff and service directors and saw the state-of-the art laboratory facilities and listened to an outline of the laboratory process, the work that goes through NHS Grampian labs daily, the amount of work generated and how it contributes to patient pathway and management.

The visit also included a discussion on RCPath priorities and strategies to support laboratory services across the country, in particular workforce, IT and data management. The NHS 10-year plan was also discussed, and where the College sees areas of development and how we can work together with parliamentary colleagues to make sure our message is delivered to ensure that laboratory medicine sits in the right place in the government's list of priorities. 

Dr Noha El Sakka, Consultant in Microbioolgy and Virology at NHS Grampian and Vice President for Communications at the Royal College of Pathologists said:

‘The visit from Kirsty Blackman MP, the MP for Aberdeen North, was a great opportunity to showcase some of the excellent work that goes on in our laboratories and highlight the many laboratory based staff involved in patient care. We want to ensure that laboratory medicine sits in the right place in the government's priorities to deliver the best care for patients.’