Pathologists and laboratory staff are vital to the timely diagnosis and treatment of cancer. They are at the forefront of research to develop precise, tailored diagnostics and treatments, such as cancer vaccines, immunotherapies and liquid biopsies, speeding up targeted treatments for individual patients.

The Royal College of Pathologists welcomes the ambition set out in the Government’s National Cancer Plan for England, published on 4 February 2026. We submitted organisational written evidence to the Government’s call for evidence which incorporated contributions from the College’s Speciality Advisory Committees. 

Our initial College response to the National Cancer Plan for England highlighted the importance of pathologists, laboratory scientists and support staff to cancer diagnosis, treatment and monitoring and to interpreting, analysing and integrating results to produce a complete diagnostic report. This more detailed response looks at some key areas of the plan and the College view on these issues.

Professor Adrian Bateman, Chair of the RCPath Cellular Pathology Specialty Advisory Committee said:

We welcome the expansion of diagnostic capacity with new histopathology capacity. The aim for 98% of histopathology tests to be reported within 10 days by March 2029 is very ambitious given the current state of consultant staffing in pathology departments. Despite new developments such as digital pathology and artificial intelligence-based tools, the level of vacancies and planned retirements within the profession is likely to be the most significant contributor to turnaround times.

Pathology is at the core of genomic medicine. The expansion and embedding of genomic testing in patient care has been transformational; genomic medicine is already providing faster, more accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment for patients with cancer and inherited diseases, with new advances being made all the time. There needs, however, to be continued investment, innovation and research to ensure patients benefit from genomic tests no matter where they live so that pathologists can identify and select the best treatments possible for each individual.

Improving performance in pathology depends on investment in both workforce and new technology. However, other barriers must also be addressed. For example, the implementation of new technologies such as digital pathology across the NHS has been inconsistent and fragmented. This has resulted in systems that may function adequately at a local level but are not typically designed from the outset to operate at a regional or national scale.

Download the College's briefing on the Government's National Cancer Plan for England