A cutting-edge pathology laboratory for West Yorkshire has been officially opened, delivering faster results for patients, irrespective of their geographical location. 

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust’s Centre for Laboratory Medicine was officially opened by the Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care, Will Quince, at a recent ceremony.

Young scientists from Mount St Mary’s Catholic High School also attended the event, participating in pathology experiments alongside staff.

And guests engaged with project staff and partners from construction lead, BAM; Siemens Healthineers; and Clinisys to gain insights into the benefits this modern facility promises to deliver to patients, healthcare professionals, and the wider community. 

The opening marks a significant milestone in regional healthcare as it is set to house pathology services from Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.  

By consolidating current services into one place it will streamline access to testing and improve working environments for staff

This pioneering regional partnership, forged in collaboration with the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), will drive innovation in testing and diagnostics.

Equipped with advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment, the laboratory aims to deliver faster results for patients, irrespective of their geographical location.  

Quince said: “This new, cutting-edge pathology laboratory will serve thousands of patients across West Yorkshire – helping to deliver faster results, speed up diagnoses, and cut waiting lists.  

“Backed by £35m of government funding, this new lab will look at more-innovative ways to test and diagnose patients and will be equipped with advanced technology and the latest equipment.

“Crucially, by consolidating current services into one place it will streamline access to testing and improve working environments for staff.” 

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, who also attended the opening, added: “This new centre firmly cements West Yorkshire as a global leader in health technology – it will fuel innovation in diagnostic testing and deliver better outcomes for patients worldwide.   

“It was inspiring to meet the staff who will pioneer these new technologies, as well as the talented highschool students who could be our homegrown pathologists of the future.    

“With this new centre, I’m confident that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust will continue to play a vital role in our mission to build a brighter, happy West Yorkshire that works for all.” 

BAM began construction of the centre in April 2022, with work including fitting 338 glass panels to create its windows and installing 1,357 individual rainscreen cladding panels on its facade. 

This new centre firmly cements West Yorkshire as a global leader in health technology – it will fuel innovation in diagnostic testing and deliver better outcomes for patients worldwide

Dame Linda Pollard, chairman of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “I am incredibly proud to see that this fantastic new facility is now officially opened.

“Pathology plays a crucial role in the delivery of frontline care and I am excited to see how, together with our colleagues in Calderdale and Mid Yorkshire, we can really drive innovative diagnostic testing across West Yorkshire.” 

She added: “This impressive new building is a key milestone in our wider capital investment programme, as we start to progress our plans for a new hospital at the Leeds General Infirmary.

“The completion of our new pathology laboratory is a catalyst for our proposed innovation village when the Old Medical School is vacated, bringing far-reaching economic benefits for the whole region." 

Energy efficiency was key to the new labs, which were designed with flexibility and digital integration in mind. 

Features include full mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems to minimise power consumption and promote heat reuse.  

Additionally, the laboratory will adopt a single, shared Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to enable electronic test requests, tracking, and results reporting to clinical services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. 

The centre will become fully operational in 2024 after the installation of cutting-edge equipment and technology.