Case Study: Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust achieves 24/7 microbiology services with NHS Employers

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust - Customer Case Study

NHS Employers supported Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, through its Path Links Pathology service, as it centralised microbiology operations across Lincolnshire. The trust needed to move from five bacteriology laboratories to a smaller number of sites while introducing a true 24/7, 365-day service that would improve patient care, standardise working practices, and address inconsistent out-of-hours pay arrangements.

NHS Employers helped the trust manage consultation and communication with staff, HR, and unions while the service moved biomedical scientist teams from an extended day and on-call model to full shift cover. The change delivered seven-day routine pathology services, significant cost savings, and faster results for clinicians and patients, helping support quicker treatment decisions and more efficient use of high-dependency care.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust