2 May 2025
Regional Pathology Lab System delivers 130million test results to date and completes regional roll out, enhancing patient care across Northern Ireland.
This week after a two-year implementation, the final phase of the CoreLIMS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), was implemented into Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trusts. This now marks the completion of the pathology focused programme’s journey to a single, standardised, regional system, historically there was seven different systems.
HSC Pathology systems have now been combined into a single, Northern Ireland healthcare specific, digital solution across all five Trusts in Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS), which will benefit patient testing and care.
This has been a monumental effort involving close collaboration with over 2,000 laboratory staff across the region supported by our software supplier Clinisys. The deployment of the new WinPath Enterprise software has already processed almost 130 million results since November 2023.
Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of NHSCT and SRO of the NIPIMS Programme, said, “Completing the replacement of the ageing and disparate legacy lab systems across the Trusts with one regional standardised system has been the result of years of hard work. I would like to acknowledge all the teams and individuals involved, for all the planning, preparation and long hours worked to facilitate this important transition.”
Since the initial go-live in Belfast in November 2023, it has been a busy and productive 18 months of rollouts across the region. Now complete, patient care in Northern Ireland will benefit from a modernised laboratory system, which will deliver a more efficient and safer service to Trusts, GPs and ultimately improving clinical outcomes for patients.
Karin Jackson, Chief Executive of NIBTS and SRO of CoreLIMS, said, “Now that the rollout is complete across Northern Ireland, I am looking forward to seeing how patients and HSCNI will benefit from a significantly updated, improved, and rationalised LIMS. Delivering this technically complex Programme in a fast-moving environment would not have been possible without the long hours, commitment, and support from colleagues in the Trusts, NIBTS, BSO and Clinisys teams.”
The CoreLIMS Programme is playing a vital role in driving improved patient care and is an integral part of the Digital Health Revolution. It has paved the way for further pathology transformation and is a key enabler for other digital transformational projects such as encompass. Considered a blueprint programme, CoreLIMS will allow further investment in new technologies and initiatives, future proofing healthcare in Northern Ireland.
Karen Bailey, Chief Executive of the Business Services Organisation (BSO) proudly marked this milestone in laboratory digital transformation by saying, “I want to take this opportunity to pass on my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all BSO colleagues involved in the development and delivery of the CoreLIMS Programme. I would like to further thank the Trusts for their support in delivering this key programme that will make a difference to patients across the region.”
ENDS
Photos: A selection of photos taken this week at the final Go-Lives in Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trusts
About the BSO CoreLIMS Programme – The Core Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is a new digital laboratory system that will enhance patient care. It combines the existing seven regional information applications used within HSC Pathology into a single, regional platform. When this programme is completed, HSCNI will have in place a significantly modernised, improved, and rationalised Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The Programme will be delivered through collaborative leadership across the HSC network and the supplier Clinisys.
To learn more visit https://bso.hscni.net/directorates/digital/nipims/laboratory-information-management-system-lims/
