Roche's Managed Laboratory Service (MLS) solution is set to enable Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to provide a patient-focused, cost-effective pathology service.
Roche will provide everything the trust needs - including instrumentation, service and maintenance, consumables and equipment/software updates - to deliver its analytical requirements in chemistry, haematology, immunoassay and coagulation testing services, as well as making savings to the trust over the duration of the contract.
Glenn Douglas, chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: 'Our pathology department serves hospitals and the primary care sector across Kent and Sussex.
'More than 150 GP practices send samples to us for diagnosis.
'This new managed service agreement with Roche provides everything we need in a single package to provide a first-rate service with no waste of precious resources.
'We will be able to treat more patients, with improved outcomes and at lower cost.
'It will bring major benefits to our patients and save at least GBP2.5m over the seven-year contract,' he added.
Processing around 5,000 blood samples every day, the new equipment supplied under the Roche MLS will allow the pathology department to reconfigure and streamline its services to benefit both staff and patients.
Nigel Leftley, general manager of pathology, said: 'Having Roche as the single source of supply for the trust means greater cost effectiveness and reduced administration costs.
'In addition, the introduction of the Roche inventory management package [cIMS] will also provide benefits in controlling stock expenditure.
'The single contract for all locations will also provide greater standardisation across the laboratories, increasing productivity and improving communication and connectivity.
'All in all, this helps us to meet key performance objectives by enabling effective financial control of variance.
'Furthermore, by transferring risk to Roche, the trust will be able to recover VAT in full,' he added.
The Roche MLS at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust will run for a term of seven years, with the flexibility to expand the equipment and services covered by the agreement over the life of the contract in order to meet the changing needs of the trust.
