Leading Bristol health trusts appoint Capita and CliniSys to deliver innovative pathology solutions
Solution will deliver platform and infrastructure to ensure the required levels of availability, scalability, flexibility and business agility are supplied
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.
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
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.
Gibbs said: “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”.
A modern and forward-thinking service demands an equally modern and highly-capable IT solution in support of next-generation pathology service delivery
Will Gothard, head of operations at 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.”
And Simon Hurst, commercial director at CliniSys, said: “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.”