UCLH NHS Foundation Trust implements NPIC platform for faster, more accurate cancer diagnosis.
The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) – the UK’s largest dedicated neurological and neurosurgical hospital, overseen by UCLH – is the 15th site to implement the digital pathology platform developed by the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative (NPIC).
Photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute / Unsplash
NHNN provides comprehensive, specialist services for the diagnosis, treatment and care of brain, spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system conditions. With the new platform, it will now benefit from the latest pathology technology advancements to increase efficient analysis and diagnosis for the 1.8m people it serves.
NPIC’s digital pathology platform enables faster and more accurate diagnoses by enabling pathologists to securely access and analyse high-resolution digital slides remotely. This transition from traditional glass slides reduces diagnostic turnaround times, enhances collaboration across a national network of clinical experts and ensures rapid access to second opinions.
It also reduces the need to transport physical slides between sites, improving efficiency and reducing associated costs. What’s more, the platform supports the development and evaluation of artificial intelligence tools, helping to drive innovation and improve diagnostic accuracy in the future.
NHNN is the 15th site to join the NPIC digital pathology network. Others include Great Ormond Street Hospital, which provides specialist healthcare to more than 76,000 children each year, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital are expected to go live on the platform in coming months.
NPIC is based out of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The NPIC programme is delivered in partnership with industry leaders. Exponential-e provides NPIC with the resilient, scalable and data-sovereign hosting platform on which Sectra’s centralised Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) resides. Leica Biosystems’ digital pathology scanners enable the integration of digital pathology into diagnostic pathways across NHS trusts. Sectra’s digital pathology solution and Vendor Neutral Archive (VNA) then supports the storage, accessibility and sharing of pathology images across multiple systems and organisations.
Dr Angela Richard, Head Biomedical Scientist in the Neuropathology Department at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, says: ‘Working with Leeds Teaching Hospitals’ NPIC programme as part of a North Central London (NCL)-wide digital pathology solution, our neuropathology department has successfully delivered a locally led implementation tailored to our service. Delivery has taken place through a phased programme, including scanner deployment, integration with Sectra, validation, and staff training, supported by close collaboration between clinical, IT and NPIC teams. Following go-live, we are now at an exciting early stage of adoption, with digital pathology beginning to be embedded into routine practice and providing a strong foundation for future service development.’
Usman Arif, Programme Head at NPIC, adds: ‘Our continued expansion evidences our commitment to building a national digital pathology ecosystem across the UK. Our partner NHS trusts not only benefit from a secure, scalable infrastructure that will enable AI integration into routine diagnostic workflows, but they also receive long-term, embedded support ensuring that digital transformation translates into sustainable clinical and operational impact for the benefit of the patients.’
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