Ipswich Hospital and Colchester Hospital, together make up East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) and provide a single, integrated pathology service across the Essex and Suffolk locality.
ESNEFT provide hospital and community health care services for Colchester, Ipswich and local areas. Formed on 1 July 2018, ESNEFT is the largest NHS organisation in the region.
We provide services from Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, Aldeburgh, Clacton, Halstead, Harwich and Felixstowe community hospitals and Bluebird Lodge near Ipswich. We also provide community services in Suffolk.
Colchester and Ipswich hospitals have major accident and emergency (A&E) departments. Please click here for a full list of our services.
State-of-the-art laboratories
Our ‘hub’ laboratory is based at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk, where the majority of pathology samples are processed.
The hub contains state-of-the-art, fully automated Blood Sciences and Microbiology laboratories and a Cellular Pathology laboratory that provides a full range of core and specialist histology and cytology services.
We have a fully automated ‘spoke’ local laboratory based at Colchester University Hospital in Essex, which handles urgent work from A&E, acute wards, theatres and maternity services.
Expert clinical advice
We have experienced consultant pathologists who provide extensive clinical and interpretative advice to those using our services. They are supported by clinical and biomedical scientists and additional support staff provide analytical, interpretive and advisory services across our network of laboratories.
Our Clinical Haematology, Clinical Biochemistry, Blood Transfusion and Microbiology laboratories operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Clinical and scientific advice is already currently available 24 hours a day.
Making every test matter
We offer a huge range of tests which contribute to the diagnosis of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cancer, allergies, blood disorders, Tuberculosis and Hepatitis. We regularly review our repertoire and introduce new diagnostic tests that allow for more specific diagnosis or provide quicker turnaround times which will speed up a patient’s diagnosis.
