Delivering pathology excellence
Formed in 2012, Southwest Pathology Services (SPS) is a partnership between SYNLAB UK & Ireland and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. We serve a population of around 580,000 and deliver services to both the Trust and more than 100 GP practices.
Our first ‘Hub and Spoke’ model
Southwest Pathology Services was the first SYNLAB UK&I NHS partnership to implement a ‘hub and spoke’ pathology model to enable the NHS’ vision for pathology delivery. Beginning with a single site at each hospital that undertook similar urgent and non-urgent tests, we created a central ‘hub’ laboratory in Taunton with an ‘essential services laboratory’ on each hospital site to provide urgent testing. Significant investment in modern facilities, equipment and integrated IT systems has improved quality and efficiency across services.
Leading the way in digital pathology
SPS was also one of the first NHS laboratory networks in the UK to adopt digital slide scanning and remote reporting. With over 170,000 slides scanned each year, digital workflows have increased accuracy, sped up processes and enabled real‑time clinical case discussion.
Delivering impact at scale
Each year, we perform 9.25 million tests across 1,400 test types, with faster turnaround times for hospitals and results available within an hour for most A&E blood tests. We’ve made significant investment in modern pathology infrastructure, supported by strong NHS‑led governance and a robust quality management system, to ensure safe, compliant and patient‑focused services.
Accreditations
Our laboratories are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). SPS is also regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Join the Southwest Pathology Services team
We are always looking for enthusiastic, curious individuals who share the values that define who we are, how we behave and how we work.
For the latest opportunities to join us, please visit our careers page.
Meet our leaders
Find out more about our leadership team, who they are and their areas of expertise.
