We’re delighted that our new, high-capacity Lighthouse laboratory has now opened at Baltic Park in Gateshead, as part of the NHS Test and Trace programme. Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, Dame Jackie Daniel, said: Thanks to the fantastic efforts from dedicated colleagues and partners, our new Lighthouse laboratory is ready to provide COVID-19 testing in support of the national effort.īSPS is one of the largest NHS pathology networks in the country and this experience has helped us to expand our diagnostic facilities to analyse tens of thousands of samples per day – deploying our expertise to support the biggest network of diagnostic testing our country has ever seen. Testing remains a vital element in tackling COVID-19, identifying people with the virus so that they can self-isolate and reduce transmission. Nicola Newman, Managing Director of Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services (BSPS), an NHS joint venture, said: Testing is absolutely crucial to our plans to get back to normal life as we cautiously ease restrictions, and these new facilities will play an integral role in that as part of NHS Test and Trace. I would like to thank everyone involved for the hard work that has gone into establishing and running the labs. They are part of Britain’s largest-ever network of diagnostic testing facilities and will play a crucial role in our collective efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus. I am delighted these new Lighthouse laboratories are now up and running as planned. NHS Test and Trace now has the capacity to carry out more than 750,000 PCR tests per day compared to 2,000 just 9 months ago. NHS Test and Trace’s investment in these laboratories has also supported the creation of local jobs with each very-high throughput laboratory having a multi-skilled workforce, as well as roles available in the manufacturing and supply chain. They will process PCR tests from home testing and local testing sites in their region, as well as the rest of the country when needed. The laboratories were first announced last year and have been purposefully created to process COVID-19 samples with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment in all 3 sites. The geographical spread of these laboratories means more testing capacity is available locally and nationally for those who need it, which in turn will help to keep turnaround times low so positive cases can be traced as quickly as possible, stopping the spread of the virus and saving lives. University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust.Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Services.Three new lighthouse labs that process COVID-19 tests have started operations, joining the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities in British history to help play a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19.īased in Brants Bridge, Gateshead and Plymouth, the laboratories will work in partnership with NHS Test and Trace and are being managed by: Managed by local NHS trusts, the labs will help keep turnaround times as short as possible, helping to find positive cases and save lives.Working in partnership with and funded by NHS Test and Trace, the laboratories are at the heart of UK’s efforts to stop the spread of the virus.
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