Microbiology Services

The Royal Marsden is currently exploring alternative operating models for its microbiology services and is undertaking a market engagement exercise to gather insights from providers. The exercise is designed to be a fact-finding and there is no formal evaluation. Providers are encouraged to propose individual solutions on their approach to service delivery and guidance on how to structure responses is listed in the attached <Provider Response Pack>. The objective of the market engagement exercise is to inform decision making on whether to move forward with a formal tender, but this is not a guarantee at this stage. With details of contract start dates provided only as estimates in the event there is a decision to progress to tender. Service Overview

Effective microbiology services are essential for the timely diagnosis of infections. For the oncology patient population microbiology screening, advice and guidance on treatment options and oversight of anti-microbial stewardship are also vital in ensuring individual treatments are optimised. Environmental testing provision is also in place to support cellular therapy, radiopharmacy and aseptic services. At the Royal Marsden Hospital the microbiology service consists of two discrete but collaborative functions. A UKAS accredited microbiology laboratory and a clinical microbiology service. The microbiology laboratory is based at our Sutton site, providing microbiology testing for our Chelsea, Sutton and Cavendish Square sites. The laboratory processes approximately 187, 000 samples per year. With approximately 65% of these tests requiring a turn-around time of 24-48 hours for a positive result. <See tab 1 in the attached spreadsheet titled <RMH_Micro_Men_Supporting_Specification> for detailed breakdown. Clinical microbiology provides a core advice and guidance function in addition to reporting of microbiology testing, oversight of the laboratory and contribution to antimicrobial stewardship ward rounds and specialty m