Members of Hoople’s IT Services Team have been instrumental in the procurement and implementation of a digital pathology programme designed to reduce cancer backlogs, transform services, and improve the speed and accuracy of cancer diagnosis for 17 NHS Trusts in the West Midlands.

The West Midlands Cancer initiative is one of the largest pathology programmes in Europe and provides pathologists with digital tools to collaborate, share expertise and capacity, prioritise urgent cases and manage growing demand. It has been described as one of the most significant events for pathologists in the last century.

Phil Rees, Head of IT Infrastructure at Hoople, was part of a team of representatives from several trusts across the region supporting the procurement of a solution suitable for all organisations.

Phil’s role was to provide technical input for the procurement, ensuring the technology specification and solution choice was fit for purpose and able to be implemented across the 17 trusts. Gary Price, Architecture Lead at Hoople, led the technical delivery into Wye Valley Trust, who were first to go live with the programme.

Reflecting on the project, Phil said:

“I am very privileged to have been involved in such a significant programme and it is clear to see how this solution will provide key enablers for the collaboration of clinicians across the 4 pathology networks in the region. The challenge to identify the requirements for 17 NHS trusts was extremely complex. The dedication of all those involved, from a number of organisations, in supporting both the procurement and implementation was key to successfully delivering the programme”.

The West Midlands Cancer initiative exemplifies the broad range of work carried out by the Hoople IT Services Team. In addition to software solutions for health, the Team provide strategic technology services to local government and a large number of schools supporting 1000’s of staff across our customer portfolio.

For more information on the West Midlands Cancer initiative click here.