The Digital Services team at Velindre University NHS Trust has officially launched a new NEQAS platform, marking the first in-house developed Microsoft Power Pages solution of its kind within NHS Wales.
NEQAS (National External Quality Assessment Service) is a programme that enables laboratories to benchmark performance and ensure the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic testing across healthcare systems.
“Building this system internally has given us something truly future‑proof: a secure, scalable platform tailored to our users, with full control to evolve and innovate for years ahead,” said Samuel Jackson, Power Platform Manager at Velindre University NHS Trust.
According to Jackson, the new system features a global user base that contributes directly to transplantation and patient care around the world.
Designed and built internally, the platform has been developed to provide a secure and scalable digital environment tailored to user needs, while enabling long-term flexibility for future enhancements.
By delivering the platform in-house, the Trust retains full control over its development, allowing ongoing innovation and adaptation as requirements evolve.
The approach reflects a wider shift across the NHS towards strengthening internal digital capability alongside clinical expertise.
Wider context of third-party technology use in the NHS
The launch comes at a time of increasing scrutiny around third-party technology providers in healthcare.
Recent reporting in The BMJ has highlighted that the British Medical Association (BMA) is advising doctors to limit engagement with the NHS Federated Data Platform due to its links with Palantir, a US technology firm associated with surveillance and policing applications.
The BMA has raised concerns around patient trust, data governance, and the broader implications of using systems connected to technologies deployed in areas such as immigration enforcement and surveillance, urging clinicians to consider alternatives where possible.
Against this backdrop, Velindre’s in-house approach highlights an alternative model for digital delivery, centred on locally developed systems and direct organisational oversight.
The project brought together multidisciplinary teams, including the NEQAS Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics team, spanning design, development, testing, governance, and delivery phases.
Support for the initiative was provided through collaboration with Microsoft, DigPacks, and Digital Health and Care Wales’ Centre of Excellence, contributing guidance and technical expertise throughout the programme.
The launch underlines the growing role of collaborative, internally led digital development across NHS Wales.