From building networks to transforming delivery – we’ll help you deliver more for less.
With more than 40 years of collective experience, the Lifecycle consulting team brings a wealth of diagnostics experience to our clients in both the NHS and private sector. Since 2008, our team has worked to shape the future of diagnostic services in England and across the globe.
This ranges from supporting NHS Improvement on setting the agenda for long-term changes across diagnostic imaging and pathology services to practical improvement projects focused on empowering NHS teams to achieve sustainability and long-term success.
An ageing population, coupled with an emphasis on increased screening and earlier detection, is increasing the need for fast and efficient diagnostics services. Through our in-depth knowledge and experience in the sector, our team can provide advice and guidance to transform your service to meet the needs of your clinicians and patients.
Chris Fourie
Director
Chris has been a healthcare business consultant in Pathology for over 16 years, gaining global experience with LTS Health and recently joining Lifecyle to focus on improving services within the NHS. Chris specialises in improving performance of both public and private pathology laboratories. Based on his specific experience in restructuring and operational design of pathology organisations he secured the contract and led the consulting team that worked with NHS Improvement on developing their national plan for pathology improvement, including the consolidation of pathology services into 29 networks. Following this work, he has continued to work with trusts and networks across England to define sustainable pathology models that would meet national reconfiguration requirements while addressing the quality and service delivery requirements of local service users. This experience combined with his engineering skills and experience allows him to provide a new perspective on solving common problems faced by diagnostic services. Chris has led several improvement projects within Barts Health, Severn Pathology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Cheshire and Merseyside, Addenbrookes Hospitals, SW London Pathology and HSL, amongst others.
Kathleen Frost
Management Consultant
Kathleen is an experienced Healthcare Consultant and her background in both Pathology and Physiotherapy means that she has a detailed working understanding of diagnostics across all settings. She has extensive knowledge of Pathology transformation programmes, commissioning and pathology contracts for both NHS and private healthcare organisations, having worked in laboratories in the UK and Australia for more than 17 years, and in CCGs for 3 years.
Kathleen has led Demand Optimisation programmes for Networks, Trusts and CCGs, and supported their QIPP and transformation plans across Pathology, Imaging and MSK, which has led to millions of pounds in savings and improved patient pathways. She has also supported recommissioning of diagnostic services to provide value-based care and improved service provision. Projects include: Leeds Pathology Improvement and Demand Optimisation, North West London CCG Pathology and Imaging Demand Optimisation and pathology contract negotiation, Central London CCG MSK pathways.
Antti Leino
Management Consultant
Antti Leino’s expertise has been built up from a diverse engineering and international business background for over 10 years, with a specific focus on the pathology environment since 2012. Having gained professional experience in pathology from the UK, Europe, Middle East, North and South America he brings a detailed understanding of the complexities associated with the environment.
Antti has managed large scale pathology procurement projects and developed multiple target operating models in England, including operational, commercial and financial models that support them, examples of his experience include:
Technical lead for South East London (SEL) STP Procurement, including the development of the specification of requirements, KPIs, Estates requirements and data due diligence;
Specialist pathology programme manager for the Hertfordshire and West Essex (HWE) pathology procurement, consisting of managing multiple workstreams across 3 Trusts and 3 CCGs within the STP;
Black Country Pathology Services (BCPS): development and evaluation of operating models for OBC and FBC. Lead in the development of commercial and financial analysis for the partnership as well as transition implementation support;
West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT): development of SOC target operating models and financial analysis;
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT): OBC Design of the new pathology facility and operational processes as part of the Hospitals of the Future programme.
Gabriel Franca
Management Consultant
Gabriel comes from an industrial engineering background. He has extensive technical skills and experience which he has acquired through numerous projects in Supply Chain and Logistics and, since 2015, Pathology sectors. Gabriel’s career has been focused on process modelling & automation, data analytics, layout design, operational costing and project management.
Since specialising in Pathology, Gabriel has advised and served international clients in Europe and the Americas, working directly with world leading laboratories and in vitro diagnostics suppliers.
Some of Gabriel’s recent achievements are:
Responsible for the conceptual design of a new lab automation operating model for a referral laboratory with a volume of 250k specimens a day.
Lead consultant on a project involving the conceptual layout of all Pathology specialties for a leading reference laboratory, planning for the future testing capacity of 40k specimens a day.
Lead consultant in several improvement and business case initiatives driven by data analytics and process simulation. These initiatives were applied in Specimen Reception, Blood Sciences, Microbiology, Anatomical Pathology, Molecular & Genomics and Chromatography departments.
Corina Sampson
Principal Consultant
Corina has over 12 years’ experience in a variety of roles in the NHS, with a clinical background as a respiratory specialist Physiotherapist, before moving to Programme Management and specialising in Pathology programmes in 2017.
Having gained experience managing large-scale projects for a network of London Trusts, she brings a diverse understanding of Pathology operations, service improvement and the implementation of new operating models across NHS Trusts and networks.
Some of Corina’s recent achievements are:
Leading on the development of a successful Pathology networking business case on behalf of three London Trusts, managing multiple workstreams across the Trusts including workforce, commercial & finance, IMT, and procurement;
Responsible for supporting the clinical and operational development of a new target operating model for the network, and production of plans to operationalise the new model;
Successful operational planning and subsequent management of the Pathology and Mortuary services at the Nightingale Hospital, London at the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic;
Leading on a large-scale laboratory estates re-design project, in conjunction with the implementation of a Pathology managed service contract for a network of laboratories, improving efficiency and quality across the network;
Design, implementation, and management of an NHS community diagnostic service, working with commissioners and GP practices to improve early diagnosis of chronic conditions and ensure seamless pathways of care for patients. Conducting unique research on the severity of newly diagnosed lung conditions in the homeless population, with an abstract presented at the American Thoracic Society Conference in San Diego.
Sara Balser
Graduate Consultant
Sara is a graduate consultant who focused on evolution and genetics during her time studying Biology at the University of York.
She developed her interest in diagnostics during an internship at the University of Copenhagen Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where she completed a market research project.
Sara uses her scientific background and data analysis skills to develop data-led solution to problems. She is passionate about making a real impact on patients’ lives and improving healthcare.
Judy Watson
Project Coordinator
Judy is busy working towards a BA Hons in Criminology and Law. Everyone deserves some down-time though. When Judy does put down the books she enjoys relaxing with friends and family, watching films and spending time with her three Guinea pigs.
Ishtiaq Ahad
Project Manager
Ishtiaq has over 8 years’ experience working on healthcare projects in NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups across London. Ishtiaq has project managed Maternity and Pathology Programmes. He specialises on Strategy and Transformation programmes in Acute settings and has worked on the formation of The East and South East London Pathology Partnership which formed a network between Barts Health, Homerton University Hospital and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. Ishtiaq has also supported the Maternity Early Adopters Programmes across North-West London introducing continuity of care for women across 6 hospital sites and its communities by working with Midwives, Obstetricians, NHSE and User groups. This experience allows him to provide expert project management skills to Healthcare Clients.
Callum Coode
Graduate Consultant
Having come to us from a neuroscience background, Callum supports the consulting team through data collection and analysis. Outside of work, he enjoys playing various musical instruments and gaming. He’s also attempting to develop his green fingers in the garden, however the plants seem to be less than enthusiastic about his efforts so far!
On frameworks? Yes.
If you would like to acquire Lifecycle consultancy services via a framework, please email Chris Fourie at c.fourie@lifecycle.co.uk or via the contact form below.
“The Lifecycle team were able to rise to the challenge of moving our organisations from SOC to FBC in 9 months. They were able to efficiently engage with all Trusts at all levels of the organisation and help us reach an agreed model for a shared service that was externally challenged and verified and which has translated in early wins and cash-releasing savings. Without the Lifecycle team we would not have been able to get our organisations to work together in such a challenging timescale.”
Graham Danks
Black Country Pathology Group Manager
Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
“When selecting our preferred pathology partner, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust was faced with the unique challenge of having to decide between different NHS network options outside our local care system and a local private provider. Chris’ unique understanding of Pathology laboratories, the London Pathology market and the NHSI national consolidation programme, helped us navigate through this difficult decision-making process. The highly commended work completed by him and his team has led to us “
Ben Maguire
Head of Business Development
Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust
“The Lifecycle team has an unparalleled knowledge of diagnostics and has been able to guide the team through the development of our procurement strategy and clinical specification development for a future-proof service.”
David Lawson
South East London Pathology Programme Procurement
“Lifecycle has played a key part in helping our three organisations complete both the OBC and FBC for Pathology consolidation in less than a year, despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Their experience and understanding of the challenges facing Pathology has meant that we able to get agreement on the best way forward fast.”
Ralph Coulbeck
Director of Strategy
Barts Health NHS Trusts
“Pathology has been an ongoing programme for NHS England with limited success being achieved in the last 10 years. In 2016, Chris and his team were instrumental in the design and initiation of launching the new 29 Pathology networks. This project has injected much needed pace in our consolidation efforts and is making great progress nationally.”
David Wells
Head of Pathology Consolidation
NHS England and NHS Improvement
“Kathleen and her team have helped us transform our direct access diagnostics. Through providing better management and coordination of contracts, negotiating cost reduction, identifying opportunities for efficiencies and implementing demand optimisation we have seen year-on-year reduction in activity and spend and improved patient pathways.”
Dr Imran Sajid
Clinical Lead
West London CCG
