19 May 2026

The Pathology LIMS Project Teams at Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) have won Digital Transformation of the Year at this year’s South East Digital Skills Development Network (SDN) Awards.

The award was presented last month at the South East Connect Conference at Epsom Downs Racecourse, recognising outstanding innovation and impact in Digital, Data and Technology across healthcare in the South East.

The winning project delivered a major Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) transformation across both Trusts, replacing an end‑of‑life legacy system with a secure, modern and interoperable platform. The system went live at IWT in June 2025 and PHU in November 2025, supporting more than 430 pathology users.

The programme has improved patient safety, reduced manual processes, strengthened infection control reporting and enabled earlier clinical decision‑making through better access to pathology data. Operating within the Southern Counties Network, it allows clinicians to view pathology results across organisations, reducing duplication of tests and improving patient pathways.

Judges highlighted the project’s scale, technical excellence, strong collaboration and potential for replication across the NHS. Lessons learned have been shared regionally to support future implementations.

Josh Cliff, Chief Digital Officer at IWT and PHU, said: “This award reflects the dedication and collaboration of everyone involved. The LIMS programme has delivered real benefits for patients and staff while creating a resilient digital platform for the future.”

The South East Digital SDN Awards recognise individuals and teams who are shaping the future of digital, data and technology in healthcare, celebrating innovation that delivers real benefits for patients, staff and services.