A new independent review, by Lord Carter of Coles has just been announced. The review will be carried out in the coming months with the review publication aiming for January 2026. It has been commissioned and paid for by the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) and has the approval of the Department of Health, NHSE and other key groups.

While the College would not have taken this approach, it is vital that we engage with this initiative, as a professional stakeholder, to help ensure that the terms of reference, scope, KPIs and recommendations are appropriate, fair and in the best interests of patients and pathology services.

In particular, the College will strive to ensure important issues around workforce, IT, automation, digital pathology, AI, quality, and fragile services are considered. It will advocate that the review is not focused purely on pathology finance, productivity and unwarranted variation. We need to make sure it is not based upon imperfect data, and a scope that does not value quality of services, clinical impact and the broader benefits that pathology brings to patient pathways and the wider NHS.

It is fortunate that the College has built up a suite of resources in recent years that will enable us to contribute data from membership surveys, workforce, pathology business continuity and consultation responses to numerous reviews, plans and initiatives across healthcare. This will be valuable for this purpose as well as informing the content of our own Pathology Plan.

We want to reassure our members that the College will be robust and unwavering in its appraisal and acceptance of both the process and output from this new Carter review. The College views this as an opportunity to highlight and showcase pathology at a time when services are under increasing pressure. The College hopes this opportunity will be beneficial for pathology services and safeguard the vital role pathology plays for patient care.