Changes to our Pathology Laboratory services

In 2017, NHS Improvement (which has since been merged into NHS England) announced that it was mandating that all pathology services must join a network by 2025 to ensure safe, sustainable & efficient services across the country.
 
Since then, Whittington Health has explored a number of options to meet this requirement and secure a sustainable future for our pathology services. The Trust can now confirm that following a rigorous procurement process, it has now signed a contract meaning our pathology laboratory services will move over to HSL effective from April 2024.

 

HSL is a partnership between The Doctors Laboratory, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and already provides our histopathology service, and wider pathology services to most NHS Trusts in North Central London. 

 

There are no redundancies expected for existing staff, and the clinical and medical aspects of the service will continue to be provided by the Trust. However, some colleagues may move to HSL’s main laboratory, located in the HALO building between Euston and Kings Cross stations.

 

Between now and April 2024, Whittington Health will continue to manage the service and work with HSL to begin plans install a new Essential Services lab at Whittington hospital, and undertake the TUPE process for workforce transition.