The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) has submitted evidence to Lord Darzi's review of the NHS outlining the challenges and opportunities facing pathology services.
The issues facing the NHS are well documented. The new Labour Government has commissioned an immediate and independent investigation of the NHS, appointing Professor Ara Darzi, world-renowned surgeon, to lead the investigation. The investigation will report in September 2024.
The College has been invited to join the Expert Reference Group and has submitted evidence detailing the issues facing pathology services to inform the findings of the review.
The submission outlines the importance and necessity of well-resourced and robust pathology services in healthcare. It highlights that pathology is involved in 70% of all healthcare decisions and over 95% of clinical pathways.
Points featured in the College's submission include:
- A workforce that is inadequately resourced to meet current and predicted workload
- Lack of data on both workforce numbers and workload, means there is no meaningful pathology workforce planning across NHS England
- Ageing laboratory IT systems with a lack of interoperability that hinder effective diagnostics.
The College has also highlighted areas that are currently working well and should be further supported including:
- The automation of blood sciences which has sped up turnaround times
- Advanced clinical practice - clinical scientists increasingly taking on direct clinical roles but need prescribing status
- The rollout of Community Diagnostic Centres, which have brought care closer to patients.
Dr Bernie Croal, RCPath President commented: “Pathology is vital for prevention, diagnosis and treatment, but services are struggling to keep up with demand with some, such as perinatal pathology, failing. Lack of pathologists and scientists with increasing vacancy rates amid rising workloads leads to future service crises, such as cancer care. Expanded scientist roles, automation, digital pathology and AI will complement but not replace pathologists. If pathology services are not optimal then healthcare is not optimal. Pathology is vital.”