Hub laboratory

A Pathology Centre of Excellence

Our state-of-the-art hub laboratory in Blackfriars Road, London, is at the heart of a programme to deliver and transform pathology services in south east London.

One of the largest, purpose-built pathology laboratories in the UK, this world-class facility is filled with cutting-edge technology and will process around 70 per cent of all pathology activity currently conducted by Synnovis, serving a patient population of almost two million.

Spanning 10 floors flooded by natural light, the hub has been designed to meet the needs of modern-day healthcare services, delivering major benefits for clinicians, patients, those who work there and the NHS overall.

By consolidating 89 laboratories into one hub and six hospital sites, 6,000 square metres of NHS real estate – the equivalent of more than 150 operating theatres – will be released for use by Synnovis’ partners for other important patient services.

Supported by technological advancements, automation and digital innovation, this hub and spoke model works by separating out urgent from non-urgent tests to dramatically improve the speed, quality and consistency of tests, ultimately leading to better patient care.

"Tens of millions of pounds have been invested into transforming services and on the hub building to date, creating an inspiring environment packed full of cutting-edge instrumentation, equipment and examples of innovation.

We are moving ever nearer to realising our vision of delivering a facility that will be looked on internationally as a pathology centre of excellence, bringing major benefits to our people, our NHS partners and the patients we serve."

Dr Tracy Ellison, Managing Director, Synnovis

On-site hospital laboratories (the ‘spokes’) have been developed to provide essential services, which focus on the rapid turnaround of urgent tests, such as those for inpatients or patients attending accident and emergency departments. Some specialist pathology services continue to be provided at on-site laboratories, in close collaboration with clinical teams.

Through the hub and spoke model, urgent and routine pathology tests will be turned around more quickly than prior to service transformation. This will enable faster clinical decisions regarding care, a reduction in overnight hospital admissions, quicker discharge and speedier transitions to the appropriate clinical pathway. The fast-tracking of urgent GP requests also means more conditions will be managed within the community.

Once the phased transfer of services is completed in 2025, the hub will house infection, tissue and blood sciences, as well as reference chemistry and specialist services such as toxicology and immunology.

Through cutting-edge digital pathology technology, clinicians will be able to view blood and tissue samples remotely via high-resolution monitors and without the need for microscopes, increasing efficiency and speeding up patient diagnosis by reducing logistics and handling risks.

For further information about the hub via the SYNLAB website, click here.

Click below to watch a video of the hub’s state-of-the-art Telelift rail conveyor system in action, transporting samples between six floors by running up walls and through ceilings.