IBMS Council meeting update – September 2026

The meeting welcomed newly elected Council members and Dylan Costello, the IBMS's new Executive Head of Education.

Pathology Transformation Review

Council received an update on the Pathology Transformation Review, published in July and led independently by Lord Carter of Coles.

The report has received positive engagement across the health system, with its recommendations increasingly informing discussions around pathology transformation in England.

IBMS is continuing to engage with NHS leaders, parliamentarians and industry to build support for the recommendations, including the development of more consistent data, greater reinvestment in pathology services and work around a future tariff model.

Engagement is also continuing across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure the review supports transformation across all four nations.

Education and laboratory training

Council approved changes to the IBMS Laboratory Training Approval process designed to strengthen support for members who volunteer as verifiers and examiners.

Approved training laboratories will be asked to demonstrate their commitment to supporting staff to undertake these important professional roles. The change is intended to help increase verifier and examiner capacity while recognising the operational pressures faced by laboratories.

Council also noted that five IBMS research grants, worth a total of £23,590, have been awarded from the £25,000 research grant fund.

Further education updates included continued work to consolidate IBMS qualifications onto Moodle and endorsement of a career framework for transfusion practitioners.

Registration portfolios and turnaround times

Council received an update on registration portfolios and the support available to trainees and training laboratories.

Current turnaround times are performing within the agreed standards, while the IBMS continues to look at ways to further improve the experience for trainees, training officers and laboratories.

This includes providing clearer guidance on when trainees can begin gathering appropriate evidence ahead of receiving formal access to their portfolio, as well as exploring improvements to processes such as bulk uploads for integrated degree programmes.

Council also discussed the important contribution made by members who volunteer as portfolio verifiers and examiners. The IBMS will continue to encourage members to take on these roles and work with laboratories to ensure volunteers are supported to contribute.

The Education and Professional Standards Committee will continue to review performance and identify opportunities to further improve education and training processes.

Membership and engagement

Council received an update from the Membership and Marketing Committee on a range of projects aimed at improving the member experience.

Development of digital membership cards is being explored, including potential integration with Apple and Google Wallets and future links with event attendance and CPD.

The committee is also reviewing concessionary membership, with proposals for a more flexible approach and potential extension to Associate members.

Council heard that around 1,500 current and lapsed members had completed the 2026 membership survey, with findings expected in the autumn.

Online joining for eStudent membership has also now launched and is being promoted to IBMS Accredited universities.

Digital services and CRM

Council received an update on work to improve the CRM and website systems launched in 2025.

The IBMS is working with Microsoft specialists to review processes, data quality and opportunities to make better use of the new systems.

Current priorities include improving member self-service, online payments, , bulk data uploads and integration between the CRM, website, events and learning platforms.

The work is also looking at ways to reduce manual processes and improve management information and reporting.

Professional regulation and fitness to practice

Council discussed growing pressures on the HCPC Fitness to Practice system and the impact lengthy cases can have on registrants.

Members of Council shared experiences of cases taking considerable time to progress, including referrals that ultimately resulted in no further action.

The discussion recognised the importance of fitness to practice processes in protecting the public while also highlighting the need for cases to be handled as efficiently and proportionately as possible.

The Education and Professional Standards Committee will consider the issue further, including whether there is a role for clearer information or guidance for members and managers.

Finance, subscriptions and investments

Council approved the IBMS budget and subscription proposals for 2027.

The budget continues to support investment in strategic projects and improvements to member services while maintaining the Institute's long-term financial sustainability.

Council also reviewed the IBMS investment portfolio. The portfolio remains within its agreed risk parameters and has continued to meet its long-term objectives.

Council approved updated expenses policies, including changes reflecting travel costs, sustainability and current working practices.

Strategic research

Council received an update on the next major IBMS research project, which is examining the value biomedical science brings to routine antenatal care.

Working with Oxera, the project will build on the approach used for the IBMS bowel cancer pathway research.

Expert groups have been reviewing evidence across five areas of routine antenatal care, with a wider meeting planned for October. The work is expected to lead to a report in late 2026 or early 2027.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The EDI Working Group updated Council on plans to increase the visibility of biomedical scientists from different backgrounds and improve engagement with members.

Work includes a new EDI awareness leaflet, member case studies and greater use of social media to showcase positive role models across the profession.

The group is also exploring activity around transgender inclusion and potential research into the experiences of biomedical scientists who wear religious clothing in laboratory settings.

Regions and branches

Council continued its new programme of regular regional reports, receiving updates on activity in London and the West Midlands.

Council heard that the London Branch has been successfully relaunched with a new committee and held its first event in September to mark World Patient Safety Day.

Further activity is planned around prostate cancer awareness and World AIDS Day, alongside work by practice educators to support registration portfolios, employability and outreach to schools.

Regular regional reports will continue at future Council meetings to help identify local issues, share good practice and strengthen connections between Council, branches and members.

International engagement

Council heard about plans to develop the proposed Faculty of International Laboratory Medicine.

The initiative aims to improve support for IBMS members living and working internationally and encourage greater collaboration between organisations representing biomedical laboratory professionals around the world.

The IBMS is also exploring opportunities to make selected advanced qualifications available internationally while ensuring that this does not compromise provision for UK candidates.

Looking ahead

Council noted a busy programme of upcoming activity, including policy roundtables, engagement with parliamentarians and healthcare leaders, work on home testing standards and continued engagement around diagnostics and pathology transformation.

The next Council meeting will take place in person on Friday 11 December 2026, following trustee training for Council members on 10 December.