NEWS
Synnovis restores testing services
Pathology services provider Synnovis has recently confirmed it has rebuilt its core IT systems following the cyberattack on 3 June. It has now resumed testing services for GPs in Bexley, Lewisham and Greenwich, three of the six boroughs it serves. Full restoration of blood transfusion services remains planned for early autumn. Normal services are operating for histology and cervical smears.
Dr Jane Fryer, Deputy Medical
Director for NHS London, said: “Today, Synnovis has confirmed that they have successfully rebuilt their core IT systems which means that South East London ICB are now in a position to start moving laboratory testing services for primary care back to Synnovis in three of their six boroughs. This means that GPs in these boroughs will regain access to the same tests and volume of pre-cyber attack. For over two months the ransomware cyber attack has impacted patients, especially in South East London, so this reduction is a positive step forward to recovering services.”
Mark Dollar, CEO for Synnovis,
said: “We have successfully rebuilt our core IT systems, meaning we are now in a position to resume testing services for GPs, with those based in Bexley, Lewisham and Greenwich transferring back to Synnovis from 15 August. “Immediately following transfer, GPs will have access to the full repertoire of testing services available before the cyberattack, and patients registered with these practices will find it easier to get a blood test appointment. For the time being, patients with an ‘urgent test’ form from their GP will still be able to turn up to one of the designated blood test clinics without the need to prebook.
The cyber attack on Synnovis and local healthcare services has had a major impact on everyone and is a harsh reminder that this can happen to any organisation at any time. The approach to recovery has been truly reflective of the effective collaboration in place between healthcare organisations across southeast London, and I would like to thank patients, GPs, clinicians, our partners and others for their support and understanding throughout.”
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New Alpha Laboratories partnership to revolutionise urine testing
Alpha Laboratories has entered into a strategic partnership with Clinical Design Technologies to market and support the world’s first digital closed urine testing system. This innovative technology offers unmatched clinical efficacy, simplicity, and accuracy, setting a new standard for urinalysis at point-of-care. Clinical Design Technologies’ UTS (urine testing system) is designed to deliver very fast, ‘Right First Time’ urinalysis results, streamlining the testing process and providing healthcare professionals with accurate and reliable data. Its advanced technology ensures precise results, empowering informed decision making, enhancing clinical outcomes, and optimising resource allocation. This not only improves multiple patient- care pathways but also reduces costs and releases valuable healthcare time and resources.
“We are thrilled to partner with Clinical Design Technologies to bring this groundbreaking innovation to our clinical customers and additional markets,” said Rob Vint, Managing Director of Alpha Laboratories. “The UTS system represents a significant advancement in urinalysis, providing unparalleled accuracy and efficiency at the point of care.” Rob Vint is pictured above with Daniel Bee, CEO of Clinical Design Technologies. Both companies will be exhibiting at the upcoming Clinical Diagnostics Expo.
Report outlines how POCT can aid NHS recovery
A new report from IBMS and Abbott, ‘Community Diagnostics: Scaling Point- of-Care Testing for Patient- Centred Outcomes’ provides a POCT roadmap for the new government, healthcare organisations and primary care providers.
The Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and Abbott have collaborated on the report, drawn from a recent high-level roundtable with key stakeholders in healthcare. It outlines strategic recommendations for integrating point-of-care testing (POCT) across the NHS to revitalise primary healthcare systems. The report emphasises POCT’s potential to facilitate early diagnosis, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and support antimicrobial stewardship. Given the pressing need for enhanced
healthcare delivery as part of the NHS’s recovery plan under the new government, this report provides timely guidance on deploying POCT effectively within
primary care settings. It outlines key recommendations for policymakers, healthcare organisations, and primary care providers, focusing on integrating POCT into clinical workflows and ensuring its alignment with national health priorities. The report also outlines future
directions for expanding POCT applications, including chronic
disease management and preventive care, and leveraging emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to enhance POCT’s efficiency and accuracy.
IBMS Chief Executive David Wells commented: “This report is a foundation stone for future strategic discussions on community diagnostics within the NHS. By adopting the outlined recommendations, we can ensure that POCT contributes effectively to a more responsive and patient- centred healthcare system.” See the full report at
https://www.ibms.
org/resources/documents/community- diagnostics/.
SEPTEMBER 2024
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
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