IBMS Ready to Support NHS Reform

The IBMS acknowledges the UK government’s decision to abolish NHS England and integrate its functions into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). As the government works to implement its 10-year plan for the NHS — focusing on reducing waiting times, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening preventive care — we stand ready to collaborate with DHSC to ensure diagnostics and pathology play a central role in achieving these aims.

As the government seeks to reduce bureaucracy and enhance frontline services, it is critical that investment in diagnostic capacity remains a priority. Biomedical scientists and laboratory staff are at the heart of diagnostics and pathology — essential services that underpin patient care, early detection, and treatment planning.

The IBMS will continue to advocate for the role of laboratory medicine in delivering high-quality, timely healthcare. We are committed to working with policymakers to ensure that pathology and diagnostics are central to the future of the NHS and its ability to meet patient needs.