IBMS commissions UK-wide review of pathology
Independent research will benchmark today’s services and workforce to guide tomorrow’s decisions
Pathology and its workforce need a clear, shared baseline for the decade ahead. To deliver this, the IBMS Council has commissioned Lord Patrick Carter to lead an independent UK-wide review. His experience of national NHS reviews is expected to deliver a rigorous, authoritative assessment that will be heard at the highest levels and guide future policy.
IBMS President Joanna Andrew commented:
This review is about giving the profession the strong evidence it needs to thrive in the years ahead. By building a clear picture of our services and workforce, we can ensure the value of pathology is recognised, strengthen our sector, and ultimately deliver the best outcomes for patients.
The review will be undertaken in partnership with the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and Association of Laboratory Medicine (LabMed) in supporting roles. RCPath, LabMed and pathology transformation leaders from across the UK will support engagement and evaluation alongside the IBMS.
Why now: the UK faces significant change in diagnostics, including the NHS England 10-year health plan. To make the right decisions for patients and professionals, the profession needs robust evidence on today’s services, workforce and quality - and the opportunities ahead.
The review will be conducted with support from NHS England and the health systems of the devolved nations through provision of available information shared solely for the purpose of the review and held under strictest terms of confidence. Recognising the work done to date in transforming pathology services, it will:
- map how services are configured and delivered
- assess workforce capacity, skills and development pathways
- evaluate quality, service resilience and digital readiness, including IT, automation and AI
- benchmark UK performance internationally across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Crucially, the review will place equal emphasis on quality, patient benefit and clinical impact alongside productivity and finance. It will seek to ensure recommendations are grounded in robust, fair data that reflects the true value of pathology services to patient pathways and the wider NHS.
The final report will provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to governments, commissioners, professional leaders and healthcare partners, supporting a sustainable, high-quality pathology service model that improves patient care over the decade ahead.
As a profession, we must ensure our expertise shapes the future of healthcare. Through this review, the profession is securing both a strong collective voice and the evidence base needed to advocate effectively, inform decisions and safeguard pathology’s vital role for years to come.