Cutting-edge pathology laboratory nears completion

A new pathology laboratory at University Hospitals Dorset’s Royal Bournemouth Hospital, serving hospitals across Dorset, has moved a step closer with the completion of the steel frame to support the development.

The new state-of-the-art laboratory, located on the Wessex Fields site next to the hospital, is designed for fast, accurate, routine and specialist testing. It will support hospitals across the region to improve diagnostics for patients and help to meet growing demand for specialist treatment and care - as well as providing development opportunities for staff.  

The facility is part of the One Dorset Pathology network - a collaborative partnership between Dorset County Hospital and University Hospitals Dorset - and will be completed in 2023.

Commenting at an on-site event to review progress, Mark Mould, UHD chief operating officer and the project’s senior responsible officer, said: “We’re delighted with development so far, not only will the new facility provide modern, high quality facilities for our existing pathology services, but it presents us with the opportunity to improve the way we deliver these services. It will enable us to take a huge leap forward in how we deliver care for patients across Dorset and beyond and will also benefit pathology staff who’ll be working with state-of-the-art equipment and buildings.”

The event was attended by May Palmer, board member of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which supported the project with a £2.7 million Local Growth Fund investment in the histopathology diagnostic hub as part of its initiatives to support COVID-19 recovery and accelerate healthcare resilience in the county. Commenting on progress made, May said:

"I am delighted to attend today on behalf of Dorset LEP to mark the significant progress made on site in bringing this cutting-edge facility a step closer to the people of Dorset. It really is no mean feat to deliver a project of this scale, and what we have seen today is a credit to the staff and partners who have brought the building to fruition so far."

The full £12.7m pathology facility will be completed in spring 2023 with the building fully commissioned during the summer of 2023; while the histopathology hub is expected to be completed by December 2023.

Visit the project page of our website for full details.

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Notes to editors

Photo captions:

• Team photo (LtoR): Stephen Harding (One Dorset Pathology, Head of Service), Mark Mould, (UHD chief operating officer and the project’s senior responsible officer), Jeff Kinnon (Amiri Construction, Project Manager), May Palmer (board member of Dorset LEP)

More information

Dorset LEP. Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP deliver projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website www.dorsetlep.co.uk

Local Growth Fund. Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders. Some additional key facts:

• There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England.
• The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
• LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.