Nationwide deployment of Clinisys WinPath concluded in Northern Ireland
In a significant leap forward for pathology services in Northern Ireland, the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system (LIMS) has been successfully implemented across all five territorial health and social care trusts and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service. This marks the completion of a nationwide rollout that replaced a 30-year-old obsolete platform, creating a unified, modern LIMS platform for all pathology services in the region [1].
This transformative move brings numerous benefits and improvements. Pathology services now operate with improved efficiency and quality, thanks to standardized processes and data management [1]. The new system fosters a truly connected service, allowing all trusts to work from the same platform, thereby facilitating better data sharing, coordination, and ultimately, patient care [1].
The implementation of Clinisys WinPath enhances capabilities in microbiology, blood sciences, blood transfusion services, and cellular pathology through features tailored to these disciplines [1]. Moreover, the replacement of legacy systems addresses ongoing operational challenges and risks associated with maintaining old technology [1][2].
The transition to Clinisys WinPath aligns with broader health service modernization goals in Northern Ireland, playing a critical role within a wider move from paper to electronic records. This shift complements other health IT modernization projects, such as the Encompass patient record system and My Care portal, which facilitate patient access to health information [2].
Karen Bailey, Chief Executive of the Business Services Organisation (BSO), is proud to mark this major accomplishment in laboratory digital transformation. Robin Bell, senior project manager at Clinisys, has stated that the final go-lives have gone smoothly, attributing this success to the early standardization of tests and harmonization of workflows.
The first phase of the project was completed in November 2023, with Belfast and South Eastern health and social care trusts going live. The second phase was delivered last June, with the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service and cellular pathology services going live. The third phase followed in late October, with a go-live at Northern Health and Social Care Trust.
CoreLIMS, developed by the Business Services Organisation to support the Northern Ireland Pathology transformation programme, was integrated into the Clinisys WinPath system. The implementation of the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system in cellular pathology at an earlier stage was part of the CoreLIMS programme.
The Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system has been implemented at the Western and Southern trusts in Northern Ireland, covering microbiology, blood sciences, and blood transfusion services. This collaborative effort by everyone involved has been a key factor in the successful implementation of CoreLIMS across Northern Ireland.
Lessons have been learned, and the deployment model has been adapted in response, with staff from labs that have gone live providing advice and support to their colleagues. Jennifer Welsh, SRO of the Northern Ireland Pathology Information Management System (NIPIMS), stated that the completion of the CoreLIMS roll-out marks a major milestone in the transformation of pathology services across Northern Ireland.
Karin Jackson, SRO of CoreLIMS and Chief Executive of NIBTS, has expressed that the completion of the CoreLIMS roll-out opens the door for future enhancements in managing and delivering vital blood components across Northern Ireland. Robin Bell, senior project manager at Clinisys, expressed looking forward to supporting the system and helping laboratories across the region to get the best out of it for their clinicians and patients.
In summary, the Clinisys WinPath implementation in Northern Ireland's pathology services has enabled a comprehensive step-change in laboratory information management, fostering integrated, efficient, and more reliable pathology operations that directly benefit healthcare providers and patients alike [1][2].
Medical plastics and technology have been integral to the successful implementation of the Clinisys WinPath laboratory information management system, improving the efficiency and quality of pathology services in Northern Ireland [1]. This modern platform, which supports digital health and health-and-wellness, has played a significant role in enhancing capabilities in microbiology, blood sciences, blood transfusion services, and cellular pathology [1].
