A new CL3 containment lab delivered by MAT will help hospitals in Hertfordshire and West Essex provide a more efficient and sustainable centralised pathology service. 

In his review of efficiency in hospitals, commissioned by the Department of Health to show how improved efficiency can be made by the NHS, the first point Lord Carter of Coles highlighted was that "the provision of high-quality clinical care and good resource management go hand-in-hand. All Trusts should therefore grasp the use of their resources more effectively."

The establishment of the new shared pathology network is one example of how this is being achieved, in line with Lord Carter's report and the resulting national programme initiated by NHS England. The shared pathology service is sustainable for hospitals, community services and GPs, and patients, and is an exciting stage in the drive towards improved efficiencies across all NHS facilities.

The hub required a Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory for processing pathology samples in order to protect staff, the public, and the environment from potentially infectious pathogens. For this part of their work, construction company Walter Lilly brought in MAT due to its proven track record and previous CL3 projects carried out together. Some initial laboratory designs were provided to the MAT team, but they were subsequently reworked in what became a full design and build project.

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