Haematology encompasses clinical management of blood disorders, laboratory measurement of cellular components of blood, provision and proper use of transfusion products, and laboratory identification and clinical management of disturbances in haemostasis. Haematologists undergo general professional training in medicine and specialist training in all aspects of haematology, both clinical and laboratory. Consultant haematologists are expected to maintain a core competence in both laboratory and clinical haematology, to provide an on-call and emergency service. However, most haematologists have further competencies in one or more sub-specialties within the discipline. These sub-specialties are organised according to the special needs of groups of patients and include:
- Haemato-oncology: acute and chronic leukaemias, lymphoma, multiple myeloma
- Haemostasis/thrombosis: haemophilia, thrombophilia, acquired bleeding disorders
- Disorders of blood production and destruction: bone marrow failure, myeloproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndromes, inherited and acquired; haemolytic anaemias, autoimmune blood diseases, haemoglobinopathies
- Transfusion medicine: blood transfusion services; therapeutic apheresis
- Paediatric haematology.
Haematologists provide the medical professional input into the organisation of laboratories, interpretation of morphology and histology of haematological specimens, including immunophenotyping and cytochemistry, and an advisory service on haematological matters to other departments within a general hospital.
Specialty Website
- British Society for Haematology