Multi-million pound pathology service 'run between Black Country NHS trusts'

Medical chiefs say the new hub - which will cost up to £10 million - will offer an opportunity to address some of the 'critical challenges' that are being faced by pathology services across the NHS.

It is hoped to bring reduced waiting times for patients for all tests including cancer and specialist diagnosis under the single managed service.

Around £400,000 will be ploughed into the build between the Sandwell and West Birmingham, Dudley Group, Walsall Healthcare and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Foundation Trusts.

And just over £92,000 will need to be stumped up by The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust by October, it was discussed at a meeting last week.

Bosses say the single managed service will run from each trust site, but the model will be tailored to their individual needs.

Diane Wake, said: "Clearly for every organisation involved this is a large scale change for everyone and we cannot under estimate the impact and anxiety it gives to staff. It is really critical that we have a robust way to give with staff, patients and stakeholders as we move forward.

"This is about providing a service that will be strong and sustainable for the future.

"We will be also be recruiting in clinical roles that will drive it forward."

The Black Country Pathology (BCP) Transitional Management Team, formerly the BCP Steering Group, has been meeting monthly since September 2016 to discuss plans.

Paul Harrison, medical director, said: "This is a high level outline business plan and we have to ensure that we can continue to deliver high quality services.

"We need to go out to more sites that have already done this and like at what they have done right and wrong. There is a huge amount of work to make sure that we continue to provide high quality care."

Board papers state: "Whilst all members understand and acknowledge the concern caused by large scale change, there has been a consistent and firm view that the creation of a unified service offers a real opportunity to address some of the critical challenges that are being faced by pathology services across the NHS."

Pathology is the study of disease and looks for abnormalities within samples of blood to prevent infection.