The roof of the new, state-of-the-art pathology laboratory at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) is now complete, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of the project. 

A topping-out ceremony was held recently to mark the milestone, with staff and key stakeholders signing the concrete stair core of the building.

Bring delivered by BAM Construction, the new facilities, based at St James’s Hospital, will become part of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Pathology Network, formed through the collaboration with the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts and will support the delivery of pathology services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.   

As well as supporting improvements in diagnosis for people across the region, it will also help to meet the growing regional demand for specialist treatment and care while providing development opportunities for staff.   

Dr Phil Wood, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive at LTHT, said: “We are incredibly proud to reach this significant milestone in the construction of our new pathology laboratory.

It’s going to be a fantastic working space for our staff, with cutting-edge technologies paving the way for more-innovative and transformative pathology services supporting both primary and secondary care delivery

“To be able to stand on the roof and see the building taking shape has been really exciting and means we are one step closer to realising our ambition to drive collaboration across multiple trusts in our region and support improvements in specialist and routine diagnostic testing for all our patients, right across West Yorkshire and Harrogate. 

“It’s going to be a fantastic working space for our staff, with cutting-edge technologies paving the way for more-innovative and transformative pathology services supporting both primary and secondary care delivery.”

With much of the pre-fabrication happening off-site, BAM Construction has been able to maximise efficiencies in its programme delivery and reduce waste, supporting the trust’s sustainability and net zero carbon ambitions.  

Building completion is planned for the end of summer 2023 and the facility is set to become fully operational by the end of 2023, with services transferring throughout 2023 and 2024 following the installation of new, high-tech equipment.

Once operations, the Trust aims to develop a world-class pathology building that is flexible, digital by design, and that supports the delivery of net zero carbon.

It will be mechanically ventilated, with heat recovery and systems to minimise power and re-use heat. 

It will also incorporate a single, shared Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for the region which will mean tests can be ordered, tracked, and results reported electronically to clinical services across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.