A contract for the implementation of a new laboratory information management system (LIMS) across all NHS pathology services in Lancashire and South Cumbria has been awarded to Citadel Health.
The new single LIMS will replace the four standalone systems that are currently used across eight hospital sites, cutting costs and providing a common platform that will link all laboratories together for the first time. It will support 800 employees and a growing regional population of approximately 1.7 million people.
This is a major step forward for the network, moving pathology into the next generation in terms of digital opportunities for new technology and approaches to improving patient outcomes as part of the delivery of a first-class service. The new system is a key enabler in improving patient pathways across multiple health areas including cancer.
Professor Anthony Rowbottom (pictured), Clinical Director of the Lancashire & South Cumbria Pathology Service said: “The pathology network was awarded just under £10 million following a successful bid to NHS digital to support the procurement of the system. This really takes us into the next level of technological advancement and will support our future aspirations for utilising machine learning and artificial intelligence. It will also support the transition that we are planning to near patient testing and future wearable technology.
“Having a common platform that links all laboratories in the health economy together is an essential enabler in supporting our future plans. As Clinical Director, I champion the improvements that the new LIMS will drive, particularly the harmonisation of processes that will improve clinical decision making, patient outcomes and safety. I am really pleased that we have now awarded the contract to Citadel Health and that work can begin on making our vision a reality. We also intend to work with academic and commercial partners to drive this project forward in a timely fashion so that we start to see the benefits for patients as soon as possible.
“The awarding of the contract to Citadel Health is a major milestone and the culmination of a complex procurement exercise. I value the input that staff working across pathology have had into this process from developing the specification through to the scoring. This is a great example of what is possible through collaborative working and the process has also been very well supported by the ICS Digital Team who we are partnered with and the IT teams across the four trusts.”