Transformation programmes

Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) - WinPath Enterprise

This single digital solution to manage the operations of all the pathology laboratories across Kent is a huge project. It will bring together all the pathology disciplines, across our seven laboratories, so we can embrace new advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence. Contact mtw-tr.kmpn_lims@nhs.net for more information.

GP Order Comms - Clinisys ICE

This project will see the delivery of a single system for GPs in Kent and Medway to request radiology and pathology tests, with access to results more widely available to those who need them. Clinisys ICE will provide a consistent and efficient approach for GPs and community health practitioners who order tests and imaging at the four acute Trusts: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

The system will be integrated with GP practice patient record system, EMIS, and the Kent community health system, Rio, enabling seamless requests and results transfer. It will include a full radiology orders catalogue for tests available at the hospital trusts in Kent and Medway. It will also include the orders catalogues for microbiology, chemistry, haematology and cellular pathology.

All GP practices and community healthcare staff with access to ICE will have access to training prior to go live. This will be via individual trust websites and the ICE OrderComms - Kent and Medway Pathology and Radiology Networks - FutureNHS Collaboration Platform.

Contact Lauren Morgan, Director of Digital Transformation for more information.

Managed Equipment Service (MES)

This is a long-term project to replace the existing disparate MES contracts as they expire for all NHS pathology laboratories in Kent and Medway. The single contract approach will enable standardisation of equipment and methodologies across the seven laboratory sites.

As the equipment will be standardised across the KMPN, trained staff will be able to work at any relevant site, enabling KMPN to become more agile in its approach to resourcing, as the network matures, and potentially enabling staff to change their base as they may wish.

Laboratory sites will benefit from the ability to share consumables when required and send specimens between sites, sure in the knowledge that they will be tested using identical equipment and methodologies to generate the result.

If you wish to know more about the KMPN MES project, please contact Chris Stiff, MES Project Director at chris.stiff@nhs.net.

Digital Pathology

A new digital pathology solution will make our services more efficient and flexible. The project will deliver a modern digital pathology solution that will transform the review, analysis and reporting processes of all Histopathology services provided by KMPN. It will:

  • Bring KMPN histopathology services in line with those offered nationally, many of which are either already on the Digital Pathology journey, or about to start.
  • Provide a quality, safe, effective, sustainable, and timely histopathology service for patients.
  • Improve recruitment and retention of current and future workforce to address the workforce shortage of Consultant Histopathologists within the Kent & Medway Pathology Network by making it a desirable place to work.
  • Contribute to trust cancer pathway performance as workload and complexity of cases continue to grow, providing the optimum result for the patient in a timely manner.
  • Provide a foundation for the introduction and exploitation of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in the future to further increase efficiencies and resilience.
  • Facilitate collaboration both within and outside of the network, improving patient pathway experience and collegiate working across the network.
  • Pave the way for the introduction of artificial intelligence algorithms to support our histopathologists, when appropriate and safe to do so.

Please email mtw-tr.kmpn_digital@nhs.net for more information about the Digital Pathology Project.

Workforce Education and Network Development

As part of the collaboration agreement to provide a single service across Kent, this programme of work will help develop a sustainable pathology workforce and make the network a great place to work. Full details can be found on each Trust's staff intranet.

The future

Further investments focusing on digital imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) will form a large part of future pathology services.

Accessing pathology services in Kent and Medway

Details about specific pathology services and provisions, including a pathology user's handbook and test catalogues provided by each Trust, please visit individual websites: