Stepping Hill Hospital’s pathology department has gone live with a new system which will  make it easier for clinicians to process millions of patient test results.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has introduced the new laboratory information management system (LIMS) system from Clinisys, which is set to revolutionise the way in which medical information is shared, leading to faster diagnosis and treatment for patients. 

Over 9.5 million tests are carried out in the hospital’s laboratories each year to help support the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of conditions. A LIMS system enables the managing, tracking, analysis and sharing of this information to support patient care.

The new system will allow greater integration with other systems and ultimately results to be shared with colleagues more swiftly and easily, both with internal clinical colleagues, and with partners such as GP practices.

The first tests were carried out successfully at the hospital this week. Microbiology and cellular pathology services are using the new system first, with blood sciences to follow early in the new year.

They have been supported with the new system by the Greater Manchester Pathology Network; one of the largest pathology networks in England which serves 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 implementing the new system.

This major system upgrade has meant close working between the trust’s pathology department, clinical and digital colleagues, as well as with local GPs, to ensure the new system has been implemented with disruption kept to a minimum.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust Divisional Director Mike Allison said; ““It’s excellent to have the new LIMS system from Clinysis up and running at the hospital in Cellular Pathology and Microbiology. Accurate and timely diagnoses are a vital part of the care and treatment we provide, and having easier access to results for our clinical staff will lead to real improvements for our patients. A great deal of hard work has gone into making this system go live, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our dedicated Pathology colleagues and the supporting Clinisys and Trust IT teams who played an essential role in making this possible.”

 Mr Chris Sleight, Chief Officer for the Greater Manchester Diagnostic Network said; “The successful Clinisys Winpath go-live at Stockport marks a significant milestone in our journey toward smarter, faster, and more connected laboratory operations across Greater Manchester.  The successful launch introduces new resilient, sustainable, and connected Pathology systems. Diagnoses are a critical part of a patient’s journey. Providing real-time access to results through a new, improved system empowers faster, informed decision-making—ultimately improving health outcomes across communities in our region.  I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication and collaboration. This system will be a cornerstone of innovation and excellence in our lab environments for years to come.”