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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Pathology services

COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST · compiled

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 10:00.

Opportunity overview

In 2019 the NHS Long Term Plan set out the key ambition that all pathology services in England would be part of a pathology network by 2023 (now April 2025). In response to this the Cheshire & Merseyside Pathology Network developed an Outline Business Case which detailed an ambitious Target Operating Model which consists of developing 3 pathology hubs which would work together to make the best use of the assets and capabilities available, and to deliver on the benefits to patient care that are available by working more closely together. These three hubs cover the following geographical areas: North Hub - Liverpool East Hub - Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Warrington & Halton South Hub - Cheshire West and The Wirral To meet the National and Local ambitions Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a provider to deliver the South Hub Pathology Service. This provider must be able to offer a single pathology service for the geographical area of the South Hub (see table above) delivered through a hub and spoke model. The provider must be able to deliver a single pathology service which consists of a Central Hub, situated in the geographic area, and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) at Countess of Chester Hospital and Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services (Bromborough, Wirral). The provider must continue to maintain an ESL based at the Countess of Chester Hospital and an ESL at Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services. The provider must be able to deliver all aspects of: Cellular Pathology (Histopathology and Cytology), Mortuary Services, Blood Science (Chemistry, Haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion), Immunology, Microbiology and Point of Care pathology services within the Central Hub. The provider must be able to deliver Blood science (Chemistry, Haematology and blood transfusion), cellular pathology (Histopathology, cytology), Point of Care and a small amount of microbiology Screening (COVID, Flu testing) at the ESLs. To provide the service all hospital sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. The Provider must demonstrate that they can fulfil the current Pathology service requirements and the future ambitions of the Countess of Chester hospital and our Stakeholders. To provide the service all current sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. For the avoidance of doubt this is not a managed service equipment contract.

Classification

  • CPV85111800 — Pathology services
  • CPV85111810 — Blood analysis services
  • CPV85111820 — Bacteriological analysis services

Lots

  • In 2019 the NHS Long Term Plan set out the key ambition that all pathology services in England would be part of a pathology network by 2023 (now April 2025). In response to this the Cheshire & Merseyside Pathology Network developed an Outline Business Case which detailed an ambitious Target Operating Model which consists of developing 3 pathology hubs which would work together to make the best use of the assets and capabilities available, and to deliver on the benefits to patient care that are available by working more closely together. These three hubs cover the following geographical areas: North Hub - Liverpool East Hub - Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Warrington & Halton South Hub - Cheshire West and The Wirral To meet the National and Local ambitions Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a provider to deliver the South Hub Pathology Service. This provider must be able to offer a single pathology service for the geographical area of the South Hub (see table above) delivered through a hub and spoke model. The provider must be able to deliver a single pathology service which consists of a Central Hub, situated in the geographic area, and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) at Countess of Chester Hospital and Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services (Bromborough, Wirral). The provider must continue to maintain an ESL based at the Countess of Chester Hospital and an ESL at Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services. The provider must be able to deliver all aspects of: Cellular Pathology (Histopathology and Cytology), Mortuary Services, Blood Science (Chemistry, Haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion), Immunology, Microbiology and Point of Care pathology services within the Central Hub. The provider must be able to deliver Blood science (Chemistry, Haematology and blood transfusion), cellular pathology (Histopathology, cytology), Point of Care and a small amount of microbiology Screening (COVID, Flu testing) at the ESLs. To provide the service all hospital sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. The Provider must demonstrate that they can fulfil the current Pathology service requirements and the future ambitions of the Countess of Chester hospital and our Stakeholders. To provide the service all current sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. For the avoidance of doubt this is not a managed service equipment contract.Value not stated

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
G/0996
Status
planned
Main Procurement Category
services

Covered By

GPA

Legal basis

Id
32014L0024
Scheme
CELEX

Communication

Future Notice Date
5 Nov 2025, 00:00

Classification

Id
85111800
Scheme
CPV
Description
Pathology services

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planned
Description
In 2019 the NHS Long Term Plan set out the key ambition that all pathology services in England would be part of a pathology network by 2023 (now April 2025). In response to this the Cheshire & Merseyside Pathology Network developed an Outline Business Case which detailed an ambitious Target Operating Model which consists of developing 3 pathology hubs which would work together to make the best use of the assets and capabilities available, and to deliver on the benefits to patient care that are available by working more closely together. These three hubs cover the following geographical areas: North Hub - Liverpool East Hub - Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, Warrington & Halton South Hub - Cheshire West and The Wirral To meet the National and Local ambitions Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a provider to deliver the South Hub Pathology Service. This provider must be able to offer a single pathology service for the geographical area of the South Hub (see table above) delivered through a hub and spoke model. The provider must be able to deliver a single pathology service which consists of a Central Hub, situated in the geographic area, and Essential Service Laboratories (ESL) at Countess of Chester Hospital and Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services (Bromborough, Wirral). The provider must continue to maintain an ESL based at the Countess of Chester Hospital and an ESL at Chester and Wirral Microbiology Services. The provider must be able to deliver all aspects of: Cellular Pathology (Histopathology and Cytology), Mortuary Services, Blood Science (Chemistry, Haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion), Immunology, Microbiology and Point of Care pathology services within the Central Hub. The provider must be able to deliver Blood science (Chemistry, Haematology and blood transfusion), cellular pathology (Histopathology, cytology), Point of Care and a small amount of microbiology Screening (COVID, Flu testing) at the ESLs. To provide the service all hospital sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. The Provider must demonstrate that they can fulfil the current Pathology service requirements and the future ambitions of the Countess of Chester hospital and our Stakeholders. To provide the service all current sites will retain their current equipment from their current suppliers, and so the provider will not be required to provide any equipment as part of this service. For the avoidance of doubt this is not a managed service equipment contract.

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKD63
Entry 2
Region
UKD74

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Id
85111810
Scheme
CPV
Description
Blood analysis services
Entry 2
Id
85111820
Scheme
CPV
Description
Bacteriological analysis services

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Id
GB-NHS-RJR
Name
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Roles

buyer

Address

Region
UKD63
Locality
Chester
Postal Code
CH21UL
Country Name
United Kingdom
Street Address
Liverpool Road

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Id
BODY_PUBLIC
Scheme
TED_CA_TYPE
Description
Body governed by public law
Entry 2
Id
07
Scheme
COFOG
Description
Health

Identifier

Id
RJR
Scheme
GB-NHS
Legal Name
COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

Contact

Name
Thomas Parsonage

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Chester · UKD63 · CH21UL · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UKD63
  • Delivery location · UKD74

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. ocds-h6vhtk-05a355-2025-09-26T14:30:06+01:00compiled ·