A 'new era' in medical diagnostics and patient care in Dorset was celebrated as NHS staff and partners gathered recently, to witness patient Steve Hiorns officially open the state-of-the-art Dorset Pathology Hub.
The new £24m facility is equipped with the latest specialist technology, ensuring high-quality, cost-effective diagnostics and care for patients across the region. The Hub is already making a significant impact, particularly through the benefits of personalised medicine and the implementation of AI and deep learning in cancer diagnostics.
Dr Katie Adie CBE DL, broadcaster and Chancellor of Bournemouth University, unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion. Steve Hiorns, the patient whose blood was the first to be analysed at the Hub, cut a ribbon to officially open the facility.
Mark Mould, Chief Operating Officer of University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) NHS Foundation Trust and the project’s Senior Responsible Officer, expressed his gratitude during the celebration event: “This is a special day as we celebrate a new era for our local NHS and the patients we serve. Delivering a project of this scale is a true team effort, and we are grateful for the support of our partners, many of whom were able to join us at the event. This project has not just been about buildings but building futures – the Hub improves diagnostics for patients, helping to meet the growing demand for specialist treatment, as well as providing development opportunities for staff.”
The new facility is located on the Wessex Fields site next to the Royal Bournemouth hospital and is part of the One Dorset Pathology network - a collaborative partnership between Dorset County Hospital and UHD.
The project has been backed by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which supported the project with a £2.7 million Local Growth Fund investment in the histopathology diagnostic hub as part of its initiatives to support COVID-19 recovery and accelerate healthcare resilience in the county.
The Hub opened in November 2023, with the molecular pathology the first team to move in. It currently works to process over nine million tests per and employs 200 staff offering service around the clock.