The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) hosted its second Celtic Nations Summit on 3 February 2026, bringing together representatives from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, alongside College officers and senior staff, to discuss the future of pathology services across the UK.

Discussions focused on workforce sustainability, service configuration, and quality and accreditation, with attendees highlighting growing pressure on pathology services across all nations. They emphasised that long-term investment in workforce, digital infrastructure and IT is essential before any major service reorganisation is considered.

There was strong consensus that workforce shortages remain the most significant challenge facing pathology services. Attendees cited rising demand, increasing complexity of care and insufficient training capacity as key drivers of current and projected workforce shortages. While acknowledging the potential opportunities of digital pathology and AI, it was agreed they are not a substitute for addressing workforce shortages.

The summit also explored the potential implications of the Carter Review, with attendees expressing concern about the pace and transparency of the process. While uncertainty remained regarding the final recommendations, there was agreement on the importance of maintaining a collaborative and professional approach in responding to the report, with a focus on safeguarding the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of pathology services.

The summit reinforced the view that no single model of service delivery would be appropriate across all regions. Instead, flexible, locally responsive approaches were considered essential to address regional variation in demand, geography and infrastructure. Despite regional variation, shared priorities emerged across all nations, including workforce strengthening, infrastructure investment and the maintenance of high-quality, safe pathology services.

The College is developing plans to hold future Celtic Nations meetings, to support ongoing collaboration and the development of new workstreams.

The College President extended a thank you to all attendees for their valuable insights, contributions and sharing of experiences, which played a key role in shaping discussions.

Read the full report of the summit: