The company hit by a high-profile cyber attack debilitating London pathology services has won a major contract in the East of England, HSJ reports.
Synlab has been selected as the preferred supplier for a new outsourced service across Mid and South Essex.
The contract will run for 15 years and was estimated in a notice last year to be worth £935m. Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust said the final value and timeline for implementation had not yet been confirmed.
The German firm runs several other diagnostic and laboratory services in the UK, including partnerships with four NHS trusts.
One of these, in South East London, Synnovis, was hit by a cyber attack this summer. This led to a long period of disruption, with a huge effect on services, including huge numbers of blood tests delayed, and procedures requiring pathology support such as transfusions delayed or relocated. There were also fears over leaked data. Synlab Italy was also hit by a cyber attack in April. The firm said services were restored in that case in 12 days.
Faisal Bin-Reza, clinical director of pathology at MSEFT, said a “thorough and competitive procurement process” had led to Synlab’s selection.
He said: “Synlab have demonstrated that they are best placed to give our patients and staff teams the high-quality pathology service they should expect.”
The new service will be used by all general practitioners in the area, as well as clinicians at the trust’s Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals.
The trust is the only acute provider in the Mid and South Essex integrated care system. Its pathology service is currently split between two services across the patch: in-house in mid Essex, and an existing joint partnership with Synlab called Pathology First in Basildon and Southend.
Mark Dollar, chief executive of Synlab UK and Ireland, said it was a “challenging” procurement process and the company was committed to ensuring services remain based in the area. MSEFT said Synlab would be investing heavily in facilities, technology and laboratory equipment.
The Christie extended its contract with Synlab three days before the cyber attack in London. Synlab has another partnership with acute trusts in Somerset.
The existing “Pathology First” joint venture between Synlab and MSEFT, for Southend and Basildon, sued neighbouring Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board over a 10-year pathology contract after another company was selected as preferred bidder. This resulted in a confidential settlement earlier this year.