PRE-ANALYTICS
Count of PSAs against total number of Px male and over 50
180 150 120 90 60 30 0 0 2K 4K 6K 8K Male Px over 50 10K 12K Trust 18 15 12 300 9 200 6 3 0 0 2K 4K 6K 8K 10K 12K Percentage of Total Px male and over 50
Fig 5. PSA testing versus demographics reveals both potential under- and over-requesting.
Mapping variation in requesting rates against indicators of deprivation allows health systems to better understand the drivers behind testing behaviour
PSA requesting rates in males over 50 (primary care settings) are benchmarked by activity per Trust/pathology service. Figure 5 shows activity compared with the percentage of males over 50 in each practice and using U&E activity as a proxy for overall request volume. This helps assess whether variation is justified or unwarranted.
This level of insight enables commissioners and laboratories to reallocate resources and improve equity of access, a critical goal as the NHS seeks to reduce diagnostic backlogs and inequalities. We can build on this approach by integrating datasets such as national prescribing data to further understand the links between diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes. In Figure 6, benchmarking primary
care urine microscopy requests alongside nitrofurantoin prescribing rates demonstrates systemic variation and reveals opportunities to share and spread best practice.
Integrated data overlays at sub-ICB, network, or regional levels are just one part of a broader suite of data-driven tools which can be provided. In addition to activity-based insights, dashboards allow partners to explore requesting patterns in relation to a diverse array of variables, from prescribing, clinical workload, and population need to equity and access across the health system. Mapping variation in requesting rates against indicators of deprivation allows health systems to better
46 100 0 0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% Percentage of Total Px male and over 50
PSAs per 1000 Px against percentage of Px male and over 50
Trust 500 400
PSAs per 1000 U&Es against percentage of Px male and over 50
Trust
GP urine microscopy/culture tests against nitrofurantoin quantity prescribed (Data shown is for May 2024)
2.1K
1.5K 1.8K
0.9K 1.2K
Fig 6. Integrated datasets highlight variation and enable shared learning.
0.6K 0.3K 00
Trust
0.5K
1K
1.5K
2K
2.5K Urine microscopy/cultures
3K
3.5K
understand the drivers behind testing behaviour. This type of insight can shape local diagnostic strategies to improve access and outcomes in underserved populations.
The future of diagnostic intelligence Our dashboards don’t just monitor – they empower. By integrating LIMS data with real-time demand, logistics, demographics, prescribing behaviour, and referral patterns, we provide NHS partners with a whole-system view of diagnostics. Looking ahead, our roadmap includes: n Predictive analytics to identify bottlenecks before they occur
n Real-time transport optimisation using smart lockers and drones
n Integrated ordercomms data to enhance appropriateness and reduce repeat testing
n Investment modelling to support data- driven business cases for workforce and infrastructure.
Conclusions Pre-analytics are essential to diagnostics,
yet too often they are overlooked. As the NHS faces increasing demand, workforce pressure, and the need for sustainable innovation, optimising this phase is no longer optional.
At GP Liaison, we believe that patients and their specimens deserve a first-class journey, and that pathologists deserve the right specimens at the right time to make the right diagnosis. When we improve the unseen parts of the diagnostic journey, we improve everything that follows, for clinicians, for the laboratory workforce, and patients.
Andrew Turner is the founder of GP Liaison Services; he has over 25 years’ experience supporting NHS and healthcare organisations to improve systems workflows. Tracking NHS patient specimens is often challenging, with disparate datasets and legacy routing tools. Andrew’s team at GPLS have developed bespoke real-time workflow solutions that integrate seamlessly into new and existing NHS dashboards to make insights into cost and turnaround times simple.
www.gp-liaison.com SEPTEMBER 2025
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
PSAs per month
PSAs per 1000 Total Px
Nitrofurantoin 100mg prescribed
PSAs per 1000 U&Es
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