Transformation

In 2021, SYNLAB formed a pathology partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts to deliver and transform NHS pathology services across south east London.

Today, the partnership – Synnovis – serves a population of almost two million people, providing diagnostics, testing and digital pathology services for hospitals, GPs and other NHS healthcare providers, as well as for a number of other private consumers across the UK.

As well as delivering pathology services, Synnovis is responsible for transforming the Trusts’ existing hospital-based services into a world-leading, integrated ‘hub and spoke’ pathology network by 2025. This responds to the ambitions set out in the NHS Long-Term Plan, which will not only help to improve the quality of patient care but will also see the NHS save millions of pounds on pathology testing services across the UK.

A state-of-the-art ‘hub’ laboratory has been developed at Friars Bridge Court, in Blackfriars Road, London, capitalising on the latest technology, systems and equipment for routine and some specialist testing. On-site hospital laboratories (the ‘spokes’) will be developed to provide essential services, which focus on the rapid turnaround of urgent tests, such as those needed for A&E departments.

The transition of services to the hub will be complete by 2025.

The hub laboratory will release more than 6,000 square metres of NHS real estate - the equivalent of more than 150 operating theatres - which can then be used by Synnovis’ partners for other important patient services.

The NHS is also benefitting from SYNLAB’s global laboratory and diagnostic network, which provides access to a wide range of clinical, scientific and operational expertise, as well as innovative research and development on an international scale.