University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust has procured an end-to-end digital histopathology pathway service with integrated AI diagnostic support and NHS reporting services.
The contract, worth £275k, has been awarded to Inify Laboratories Ltd following completion of the Most Suitable Provider Process, for its fully integrated diagnostic service enabling information sharing and multidisciplinary collaboration. According to University Hospitals Plymouth, the digitally enabled model is hoped to support long-term service continuity and robust governance.
Initially running to June 2027, parties may agree on an extension for a further period of up to 12 months. Key performance indicators are given as standard NHS, standard Inify, and pilot specific, each with a reporting frequency of three months.
Last month, UHP’s quality account for 2025/26 outlined successes from the last year including its EPR programme. “Significant progress” has been made over 2025/26 in delivering the trust’s digital programme in support of safer, more efficient, and more integrated care, the trust states, with the formal award of an EPR contract to Epic as part of the One Devon EPR programme. The implementation phase remains ongoing, it continues, with a planned go-live scheduled for July 2026 following a successful go-live at Torbay Hospital in April.
A number of “EPR-enabling” digital improvements, according to the trust, such as the SafeTrace system in pathology, Windows 11 upgrades, the deployment of Nervecentre in same day emergency care, and the optimisation of voice recognition technology, are noted.
“The trust also strengthened its focus on digital inclusion through early engagement with staff, patients and community partners ahead of EPR go-live, helping to ensure that new digital services are accessible, support self-management where appropriate, and reduce the risk of exclusion for vulnerable and underserved groups,” it adds.
Wider trend: Health tech procurement
NHS Blood and Transplant is committing £68 million to advancing its assessment and recovery (ARCs) programme through four separate procurements, seeking to increase organ utilisation and adoption of machine perfusion technology. £20 million will be awarded to up to three clinical delivery partners to act as centres of excellence and conduct preservation and assessment activities as part of a national service. £30 million is assigned for machine perfusion technology services, and £5 million is indicated for transportable organ storage solutions. A further £10 million is reserved for digital delivery partners to help keep services compliant with relevant standards, and to support the delivery of the national ARCs model.
The University of Strathclyde is undertaking a procurement for the provision of a range of digital services in support of its Substance Use and Mental Health Interventions using Digital Technology (SUMIT) project covering 1,500 test beds. The project sets out to develop and evaluate the digital transformation of services within a test bed environment for 1,500 beneficiaries. Activities include collaboration with four local demonstrator sites to deliver a skills development programme for 500 staff and a community of practice to promote the implementation of digital products; the development of three digital products for people to confidently use digital devices or products to access support and improve health and wellbeing; and an evaluation of “what works” to inform service delivery and policy development around reducing inequality.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has signed a contract with Interoperability Health (UK) Limited for the provision of a trust integration engine to support linking data from EHRs and EPMA. According to the trust, the trust interface engine is required to support in linking key EHR systems and its EPMA system to ensure data and records can be shared to help improve quality and efficiency in patient care. The contract, with a total value of £77,273, is set to run to the end of March 2028, with the trust noting that since the value is below the relevant threshold, the procurement took place without competition.
