Enquiries and complaints

For any enquiry, to enable us to deal with them efficiently, please ensure you use the correct contact information.

Regarding complaints, our department is dedicated to thoroughly investigating all issues related to the quality and standard of our services. Complaints may be directed to the laboratory manager using the contact information listed below.

Errors

There is evidence that the rate of clinically significant reporting errors for Histopathologists is 1 to 2%. Since histology often provides the definitive diagnosis, error in histology may have a profound impact on patient management.  There are things that you can do to reduce the occurrence and impact of errors:

• Make sure that both digital and paper request cards and specimen pots meet the requirements of the sample acceptance criteria with unambiguous and correct patient demographics.
• Provide clinical information on the request card, including details of previous specimens, whether here or in another hospital.
• Question cases where there is an apparent discrepancy between the clinical, radiological and pathological diagnosis.
• Review cancers at an MDT

Complaints

Cellular pathology at MFT is always striving to improve but acknowledge there are times when the department has not got things right. There is a complaints process, and details are found below.

Complaints are made via PALS (Patient Liaison service). Please contact PALS via email  PALS@mft.nhs.uk or phoning 0161 276 8686.

Patients can also make complaints via the PALS office.

• Oxford Road site – Ground Floor, Entrance 2, Manchester Royal Infirmary

• Wythenshawe site – Ground Floor, Entrance 5, Wythenshawe Hospital

(Last reviewed August 2025)