What is the value of digital pathology for your department and patients?

Although hidden from public and patient view, pathology services are the cornerstone of the healthcare system, with pathology diagnostic assessments playing a substantial role in more than 80% of all patient care pathways.¹ In recent years, the demand for these services has surged to exceptional levels; and with the arrival of genomic testing and personalised medicine, that demand is expected to expand further. 

According to research conducted by Keele University, there is a 4.5% annual demand growth for pathology services nationwide,² rendering the existing structure untenable for future service provision. As the population ages and the workforce continues to suffer from a national shortage of pathologists,³ it is imperative to reconsider the conventional operational model employed by the healthcare system for pathology diagnostic testing.

In line with the goals set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, a key initiative states that 95% of patients needing a diagnostic test will receive their results within six weeks by 2025.⁴ For the collective healthcare system to reach this target, pathology departments will need to oversee a comprehensive and far-reaching digital transformation of their existing workflows and the technological infrastructure that underpins them. This transformation will supply the foundational framework for augmenting diagnostic capabilities within existing budget constraints, meaning more patients will receive a diagnosis within clinically actionable timelines.