In the week commencing Monday 19 May, Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ is switching over its Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), which will have a short-term impact on processing some non-urgent results.
The LIMS is a piece of software that processes the pathology requests made by hospital staff and GPs. It translates requests into laboratory tests which our analysers and laboratory staff can then process. The LIMS is pivotal for booking samples into the laboratories, analysing samples, and reporting results to the systems that staff use.
It is important that this switchover happens to ensure a robust laboratory system for many years to come. The new system will also enable wider benefits within our pathology services as we complete the move into our new laboratory on the St James’s University Hospital site.
LIMS is a shared system across West Yorkshire which will provide a single, seamless solution for processing pathology testing for patients having tests. This will allow patient test results to be viewed by clinicians across the region, regardless of where a test was obtained, and ultimately deliver a better experience for patients.
What’s happening and what is the impact?
The old Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), called Telepath, will cease to take new samples, and the new LIMS, known as Winpath, will be switched on for Microbiology (Bacteriology, Mycology and Virology) and Clinical Immunology.
This change impacts on testing in our hospitals, at GP practices and with partner organisations.
This is a large, complex transition. We know from a previous switchover that disruption is possible and we are doing all we can to be as best prepared as possible. Extensive testing of the new LIMS has been undertaken to minimise disruption, but as with any substantial changes such as this, we do anticipate some issues to arise at go-live. We have dedicated staff to help to minimise the impact of any disruption.
In the days and weeks following implementation, it is anticipated there will be delays to non-urgent turnaround times as the laboratory teams and users familiarise themselves with the new LIMS. This will particularly affect the go-live week itself where there may be delays to routine requests. Due to necessary prioritisation of urgent samples, outpatient and GP practice samples may experience additional delays.
This LIMS project supports the work to get the Centre for Laboratory Medicine operational over the next couple of months. In preparation of these phased transitions, there will be some dedicated communications for departments about what this means.
Your results and how to get in touch
The preferred way for patients to know that their test results are available is by online services; checking on the NHS App or SystmOnline/Airmid. You can see all your test results and your recent medical notes in the NHS App.
If at any point you would like to raise a concern or provide feedback you are able to do so via the Trust’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service: /patients/support/feedback-complaints/