Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s pathology department has completed the 'go-live' of a new laboratory information system, enhancing the processing of millions of patient test results. The new laboratory information management system (LIMS) from Clinisys improves how laboratory results are reported, leading to faster patient diagnosis and treatment. The system has been successfully launched with laboratory blood sciences, following its introduction with microbiology and cellular pathology services last year.
System details and benefits
Over 9.5 million tests are carried out at Stepping Hill Hospital’s laboratories each year to support diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions. A LIMS system enables managing, tracking, analysis, and sharing of this information to support patient care. The new system allows greater integration with other systems and ultimately supports quicker turnaround times, getting results to colleagues more swiftly, including internal clinical colleagues and partners such as GP practices.
The trust has been supported in implementing the new system by the Greater Manchester Pathology Network, one of the largest pathology networks in England, serving an estimated 2.8 million people. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has joined with three other trusts in the network—Bolton, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Services, and the Northern Care Alliance—in adopting the new system. This major upgrade required close collaboration between the trust’s pathology department, clinical and digital colleagues, and local GPs to ensure minimal disruption.
Comments from trust officials
Mark Gordon, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Pathology Operational Lead, said: “Following the launch with cellular pathology and microbiology last year, it’s fantastic to see the new LIMS now completely live in blood sciences. This is a significant step forward with the digital infrastructure of the laboratory in line with the national NHS digitalisation goals and will further benefit the adoption of full digital integration for Pathology. This has been a major project with the previous system in place since 1992, and I’d like to say a huge thanks to all our pathology and IT colleagues for the expertise and skill they have brought, as well as Clinisys and the Greater Manchester Pathology Network for making this launch a success.”
