History

April

January

St. Thomas’ and Kings consolidate expertise and experience

Bringing these two world-class Toxicology laboratories together on one site created a large scale facility that is more resilient and cost-efficient, enabling us to bid competitively for services across SE London and beyond.

April

Working together to meet the challenge

In order to handle the high volume of tests required by the NHS HPV screening programme, we consolidated the cervical cytology laboratories at King’s and St Thomas’, allowing us to process approximately 60,000 slides per year

June

Innovation Academy: a peer-to-peer platform for innovation

We formed our Innovation Academy initiative to encourage peer-to-peer networking and communication to advance pathology services. Over 100 delegates attended our inaugural symposium in London, which included presentations on subjects such as  Child Health; Infectious Diseases; and Next Generation Diagnostics.

September

Improving patents’ experience of blood sampling

With the aim to improve the patient pathway and enhance patients’ service experience, we asked how we could improve the process of have a blood sample taken. This included reducing waiting times from nearly a hour to 10 minutes and automating reception services.This system has already been successfully introduced at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

Integration Engine project: Implementing a platform to ensure the smooth flow of data

The Integration Engine is software that manages workflow and data between all of our sites, allowing projects to be routed to the right place in the right format. This has allowed different sites to communicate better and increase efficiencies allowing for faster response and speed of delivery.

Newborn Screening project: delivering a joined-up service to benefit patient lives

The Newborn Screening project enables the linking of newborn and antenatal screening results. This crucial link stands to improve the robustness, flexibility and scalability of our NHS service.

October

Innovation fund announced

Scientists are invited to apply for funding to develop new tests. The proposed new tests will be reviewed by a panel of experts representing our core capabilities, and winners will be awarded funds.

December

Innovation Academy: second event held

Our second Innovation Academy symposium took place at the Royal Institution in London, with presentations on Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, infectious diseases and transplantation and oncology.

Continued growth allowing room for innovation

2012 was a milestone year for us. The organisation successfully achieved financial breakeven after implementing an integrated cost improvement programme.

January

Combining expertise to provide a better service 

Our service integration programme begins, and we are awarded national contracts for screening services, allowing our customers to realise the benefit from our newly expanded partnership.

December

Operational expertise supports clinical expertise

A new management team led by Richard Jones as CEO early in 2011 bring significant changes in leadership capability and operational plans.

October 

Adding Over 900 years of clinical expertise

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joins GSTS as an equal share partner, adding the largest, most innovative automated laboratories in Europe.

February

Our journey to transform pathology services begins

The scientific expertise of Guy's & St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust is paired with the back-office support of Serco to form the joint venture GSTS pathology.

December

Our network of expertise expands

GSTS joins forces with Bedford Hospital to run pathology services, allowing us to strengthen our capabilities, and in turn, better serve our customer needs.