Members only
IBMS grant helps launch Pathology Academy Wales
Developed by the National Pathology Programme for Wales and hosted on Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW)’s digital learning environment for NHS Wales, Y Tŷ Dysgu, Pathology Academy Wales aims to improve training quality, consistency and accessibility across the pathology workforce.
IBMS grant funding
The project has been made possible through funding from the IBMS education and training grant programme. The grant is aimed at funding one-off development costs for sustainable training solutions and/or materials and is available to the 27 networks in England, other recognised health systems, and to recognised groups of hospitals or healthcare systems in the other home nations and Crown Dependencies.
The grant enabled the appointment of a dedicated Pathology Academy Wales Development Manager for 12 months, providing the focused capacity needed to bring together the wide range of resources produced by the Wales Pathology Training Leads Group, coordinate the drafting and development of the site with HEIW, and shape the Academy’s first phase of content.
This dedicated development time will also allow work on the next phase, which will focus on expanding supportive resources for portfolio candidates and developing materials aligned to service needs across Wales.
Launching the Academy
IBMS member Luke Hughes, Pathology Academy Wales Development Manager at the National Pathology Programme, said:
I’m delighted that we’ve been able to launch the Pathology Academy Wales in line with our development plan. We know that access to training hasn’t always been equitable across Wales, particularly without a national platform to host resources, which has created real challenges for our workforce.
Pathology Academy Wales is our solution. Hosting the Academy on Y Tŷ Dysgu, HEIW’s digital learning environment, has enabled us to develop quickly and make high-value resources accessible nationwide.
Impact of funding
Luke, on the impact that IBMS funding had on the project, said:
The IBMS education grant has been instrumental in making this possible. It has given us the additional capacity to bring this work together and to continue developing new resources that directly support the needs of the profession.
I’m grateful to the IBMS for investing in education through this scheme.
I also want to recognise the Pathology Training Leads Group, whose original work laid the foundations for the Academy.
They develop resources, support candidates, and undertake marking often in their own time. The Academy finally gives us a national platform to showcase and enhance this work.
Just the beginning
From its inception, the Academy is designed to strengthen Wales’s pathology workforce. Commenting on what’s next, Luke said:
We are only a third of the way through the development period, and this launch marks a beginning rather than the end. The next phase will focus on creating more supportive and service-aligned training resources, particularly for portfolio candidates, as we continue building education and development opportunities for the workforce across Wales.
Training for pathology staff
Pathology Academy Wales provides a centralised and accessible digital learning hub for the pathology workforce, with an initial focus on supporting trainees, laboratory support staff, biomedical scientists, and those involved in training and supervision.
The first release brings together core training materials, guidance on registration and specialist portfolios, resources aligned with Healthcare Science vocational qualifications, CPD content, and career development information.
By offering flexible, asynchronous access to learning, the Academy supports the growing preference for digital-first education. It helps staff engage with training at a time and pace that suits service demands.
Further content will continue to be added throughout the development period as the programme responds to national training priorities and the evolving needs of pathology services across Wales.
How to access
The Academy is hosted on Y Ty Dysgu (the HEIW Digital Learning Environment). Access is free for all staff in Wales.
You’ll need to register for an account on Y Ty Dysgu to get started.
