Trust to invest over a million pounds into Histopathology to allow worldwide diagnosis | News

A million-pound investment in laboratory services at the Trust will make it one of the most advanced in the world.

The investment will refurbish the histopathology laboratory at the Trust and allow patient tissue samples to be diagnosed from anywhere in the world.

The development will expand the functional area of the laboratory, modernise the service and work processes in order to help meet the national cancer waiting times.

This project will also allow the department to embark on a ground breaking digital pathology project where patient tissue samples will be digitised, so that clinicians will be able to diagnose from anywhere in the world in order to achieve the best results for patients.

Dr Marianne Illsley, Medical Director for the Trust, said histopathology is the diagnosis and study of diseases of the tissues, and involves examining tissues and cells under a microscope.

She said: "Histopathology is a vital service for many patients including those who are being investigated and/or treated for cancer."

"Sadly, more and more patients are requiring tests to diagnose or exclude cancer, and services are under severe pressure across the UK, which can lead to delays. This development will benefit both patients and staff, enabling rapid and advanced diagnostic testing."

Histopathology at the Trust is a joint venture with Frimley Heath, Royal Berkshire and Ashford and St Peters Hospitals to deliver pathology services under the umbrella ‘Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services’.

All histopathology samples for Surrey hospitals within the ‘Berkshire & Surrey Pathology Services’ network are processed at the Trust site in Guildford.