Adam Freedman, College Policy and Public Affairs Officer, provides an update on the work the College has undertaken to engage with policymakers on the issues facing pathology ahead of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd elections on 7 May.
Scotland elects 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to its Parliament every 5 years. In Wales this year, the number of Members of Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) will rise substantially from 60 to 96, elected from 16 new constituencies, also with a 5-year term. After the elections, new Scottish and Welsh governments will be formed.
Both governments oversee health, social care, public health and animal welfare policy in their respective nations. The outcomes of the elections will shape how pathology services are delivered and resourced in Scotland and Wales for the next 5 years.
Our Scotland1 and Wales2 Regional Councils comprise specialty members who provide professional leadership in both nations. Members of the Councils advise local NHS, other healthcare providers and local government on the provision of pathology services in their nations.
Ahead of the elections, the Regional Councils have published their priorities for pathology services for each incoming government. We have shared these priority documents with all election candidates announced to be standing by their respective parties. As a medical royal college, it is vital that we engage with candidates from all political parties who are standing in the elections. This allows us to reach as many potential future representatives as possible and avoid political bias.
The key priorities that the College endorses for Scotland include the following.3
Address workforce shortages
83% of Scottish members4 say current staffing levels are not sufficient to ensure sustainable services or to meet rising demand. Scotland needs a clear plan to retain existing staff and recruit new consultants, including fully funded training places for pathologists and scientists.
Increase protected time for consultant and clinician-led research and innovation in pathology and laboratory services
As care shifts towards prevention and community-based support, Scotland must redevelop testing, reporting and diagnostic pathways to support this transition. College members in Scotland have the expertise to shape this work, but they should be given protected time for research, innovation and service development alongside their clinical duties.
Enhance digital and IT capability for better patient care
Scotland needs modern, resilient systems that securely share data and integrate results in real time. Digital pathology also requires dedicated national funding to be effective.
Harness the potential of AI
AI can support pathology services by improving efficiency, freeing clinicians to focus on more complex cases. To use AI safely, pathology services in Scotland needs strong digital infrastructure and to collaborate UK-wide on regulation and patient safety.
The College has identified the following priorities for Wales.5
Investing in workforce for patients
74% of pathology staff in Wales6 do not think current staffing levels are adequate to ensure long-term sustainability of pathology services and to meet growing clinical demand. Wales needs urgent investment in recruitment and training across all specialties
IT for better patient care
Robust and modern IT systems are vital to deliver pathology services including modern, functional laboratory information management systems (LIMS). Once the all-Wales LIMS is ready to roll out, there must be protected time for clinicians and scientists to train in the new system and carry out testing.
NHS Estate
The Ministerial Advisory Group’s NHS Wales review7 described pathology estates as ‘unfit for purpose’, with many laboratories lacking sufficient space for modern equipment like digital scanners. The Welsh Government must urgently invest in ring-fenced capital and operational funding for laboratory refurbishment and digital pathology equipment.
Integrate NHS services to ensure equitable care
The NHS in Wales is fragmented. Multiple health boards operate pathology laboratories and services, without national coordination. This can lead to inconsistent practices across regions and variation in test availability and turnaround times. The Welsh Government should support regionally integrated services where appropriate, helping to deliver consistent practice and reduce variation.
Once elections have taken place, the College will contact newly elected MSPs and MSs, and appointed Ministers, offering to meet to discuss these priorities in detail.
We look forward to working with politicians and policymakers to support pathology’s role in improving diagnosis, treatment and care across Scotland, Wales and all the nations of the UK.
References available on our website.
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