Pathology workforce planning has historically been challenged by fragmented datasets, inconsistent reporting and limited visibility of workload pressures. To advocate effectively on behalf of the profession, the College requires data that truly reflects the experiences of pathologists across the UK.  

In 2025, we launched our first comprehensive Workforce Census to meet this need.  

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A stronger foundation for workforce planning

Guided by the College’s Workforce Strategy, the 2025 census delivered the most complete dataset the College has held to date, with a strong response rate of 31%. It captured essential insights across: 

• working patterns and capacity 
• morale and wellbeing 
• retirement and career intentions 
• training experiences and support.

This dataset now underpins much of the College’s workforce, policy and advocacy activity. 

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How the 2025 Workforce Census supported out work

The breadth and quality of the data enabled the College to produce a series of high-impact outputs including spotlights on working patterns, morale and wellbeing and pathologists in training and specialty-specific reports on immunology and paediatric and perinatal pathology (with additional specialty reports in development). 

Census data has also enabled the College to respond to several consultations backed by evidence, including: 

• the National Cancer Plan
• the NHSE Medical Training Review
• the Men's Health Strategy for England
• the Scotland Future Medical Workforce Project
• the NHSE 10-Year Workforce Plan
• the Scotland NHS Meger 
• the Health Foundation NHS Productivity Commission
• the MHRA Regulation of AI in Healthcare.

The census data also supported the development of election priorities for Scotland and Wales.  

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The impact of our work

The 2025 census delivered a level of insight that strengthened the College’s advocacy across pathology. For the first time, we were able to present a comprehensive, up‑to‑date picture of workforce pressures, training experiences, morale and retirement patterns.

• The first spotlight report became the most-read article of 2025 in The Pathologist.
• The paediatric & perinatal pathology report received extensive national coverages, including BBC, The Telegraph and other major outlets. 
• Close engagement with patient charities and policymakers saw the PPP report gain traction at key events, including the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss in December 2025, and an engagement event in November 2025 where the College met MPs from areas most affected by the shortage of pathologists to carry out paediatric post-mortems. 
• Findings from our clinical immunology report also contributed to the British Society of Immunology’s workforce report, supporting wider cross-specialty planning.

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