North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with Public Health England (Bristol) and Weston Area Health NHS Trust have appointed CliniSys and Capita Healthcare Decisions to deliver an integrated laboratory information system for all areas of pathology across the region.

The Capita and CliniSys solution was selected following a competitive tender and evaluation process involving all four organisations. It will deliver the necessary platform and infrastructure to ensure that the required levels of availability, scalability, flexibility and business agility are supplied; essential in the modern healthcare environment where pathology businesses and services need to evolve and adapt to incorporate new services and laboratories.  

David Gibbs, Pathology Services Manager for North Bristol NHS Trust said: “With multiple parties involved this has been a complex procurement. A key requirement was the need to incorporate our genetics service - Bristol Genetics Laboratory - on the same platform. The laboratory information system is seen as a vital component to achieve the project aims, to have an integrated, high quality pathology service that maximises innovation and technology and drives efficiencies and effectiveness. We chose the only supplier with proven credentials in delivering a multi-site solution with the ability to provide the necessary levels of functionality and flexibility to all aspects of the service.”

Bristol Genetics Laboratory, a leading centre for cytogenetic and molecular genetics disciplines, delivers a wide range of genetic analysis services to the UK and internationally.

David Gibbs says: “Genomics technology will drive innovation across diagnostics and will require genetics departments to work in close collaboration with other pathology disciplines, having Bristol Genetics Laboratory truly integrated with the rest of the pathology service, on the same laboratory platform, is essential to offer the necessary clinical benefits”.

Will Gothard, Head of Operations, Bristol Public Health Laboratory added: “The new system is a key element of our strategy for the creation of Severn Pathology with North Bristol NHS Trust. This along with the jointly funded new laboratory and Public Health England funded infection sciences automation will ensure a service that can meet current and future needs for diagnostics, advice and the development of public health services.”

Mark Orrell, Head of Service, Cellular Pathology, University Hospitals Bristol commented: “The new system will enable pathology across Bristol and Weston to work together in a more collaborative fashion than previously possible.  This will result in an enhanced service for the clinicians and therefore the patient.  This is a great example of pathology across four organisations providing a seamless service for the people we serve.”

Fiona Pearson, CliniSys Chief Executive Officer said: “Even though genetics and molecular testing is increasingly influencing mainstream pathology, their systems remain standalone without the necessary integration. CliniSys is therefore proud to announce that this project marks the first case in the UK where genetics will be fully incorporated into the network wide laboratory information system and operate on the same platform as all other pathology service users.” 

Andy Lockwood, Managing Director, at Capita Healthcare Decisions said: “By working together, Capita Healthcare Decisions and CliniSys have delivered a strategic solution that will enable Severn Pathology to benefit quickly from improved efficiencies and availability of services.”

Simon Hurst, Commercial Director at CliniSys added: “A modern and forward thinking service demands an equally modern and highly capable IT solution in support of next generation pathology service delivery. All the pathology partners in this project will benefit from increased efficiency and flexibility brought about by the WinPath laboratory information system and the full CliniSys product suite.”

David Gibbs concludes: “Our new partnership with CliniSys and the deployment of the their system, underpinned by Capita’s dedicated healthcare-as-a-service platform, will enable Severn Pathology to continue to develop and expand to accommodate future advancement of its services”.

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