Welcome to our new Microbiology colleagues
Earlier this year we announced that our laboratory service was to undergo a major transformation, made possible by nearly £32m worth of investment by Welsh Government.
The investment has allowed us to plan and make fundamental changes to our service, including the development of a new national infection service. Key to this was the creation of more than 150 new jobs.
David Heyburn, Head of Operations, Microbiology & Health Protection, explains:
“I’m really pleased that we’re now starting to welcome our new colleagues. They will be working across our regional laboratories and our six new ‘Hot Labs’, allowing us to significantly increase our laboratory capacity and resilience, both in the context of the current pandemic and in the longer term.
“These are challenging times for the service – and for the organisation as a whole. But we have some talented and committed staff working for us – and more joining us – delivering a first-class service for our patients and citizens in these extraordinary times.”
About our hot labs
Our six new hot laboratories, which open this month, will operate from 08:00 – 22:00, seven days a week.
They will have rapid, under four hour, testing equipment and new testing equipment for other conditions, which will free up staff to work on COVID-19 testing.
The six hot labs are based in:
• Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil
• The Grange Hospital, Llanfrechra
• Llandough Hospital, Penarth
• Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
• Morriston Hospital, Swansea
• Prince Phillip Hospital, Llanelli