Health Minister welcomes Pathology Transformation Review
Date published:
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the publication of Lord Carter of Coles’ latest review into Pathology Transformation.
The review, which was commissioned by the Institute of Biomedical Science, highlights the vital importance of pathology services, staff and infrastructure in diagnosing and treating disease. It has considered pathology services across the UK to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment to help inform future decisions around pathology services.
Minister Nesbitt said:
“I thank Lord Carter for his latest review and work in this area, which clearly recognises pathology services as a critical component of modern healthcare. I recently had the pleasure of welcoming Lord Carter to one of Health and Social Care’s (HSC) pathology laboratories, where he witnessed first-hand the valuable work our dedicated and expert pathology workforce is undertaking on a daily basis.
“The review recognises the work that has been ongoing in recent years to transform and improve pathology services in Northern Ireland, and supports our ongoing work towards an integrated, regional management structure for HSC pathology services in Northern Ireland.”
The review's central message is that the benefits of modernisation and integration have been demonstrated and that the priority should now be to complete the transformation journey. It recommends completing operational integration of pathology services, which aligns with Department of Health’s strategic direction in this area, as set out in Modernising HSC Pathology Services policy statement [https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/modernising-hsc-pathology-services-policy-statement].
The Minister continued:
“This strongly aligns with my Department’s vision for a HSC Pathology Services Agency for Northern Ireland. This will bring pathology services together within a unified, regional model that can deliver greater consistency, improved performance, stronger governance and better value for patients and taxpayers.
“We have already invested in the digital infrastructure that a modern pathology service requires, and the pathology services agency is the next step on the journey. This will support a coordinated response to these challenges while ensuring that patients continue to receive safe, timely and high-quality diagnostic services."
Other recommendations include strengthening workforce planning, developing a national dataset, accelerating digital transformation, embedding accountability and reinvesting gains from transformation.
Recognising the growth in diagnostic demand and workforce pressures, the Minister welcomed the review's focus on reinvesting efficiencies generated through transformation into frontline pathology services. He added:
"Any benefits realised through service transformation should be reinvested in pathology workforce development, digital capability, quality improvement and service resilience. This reflects the approach we are taking in Northern Ireland as we work with HSC organisations and pathology professionals to deliver sustainable long-term improvements.
"I want to thank our HSC pathology workforce for the vital role they play every day in supporting patient care. Their expertise and commitment are essential to the delivery of modern health and social care services. The Review rightly notes that transformation cannot be delivered without the support of the workforce, our most valuable commodity. As we take forward our plans for a HSC Pathology Agency, we will continue to work closely with staff, professional bodies and service users to build on the strengths of our pathology services and ensure that they remain fit for the future."
Notes to editors:
- The Pathology Transformation Review 2026 was commissioned by the Institute of Biomedical Science and chaired by Lord Carter of Coles. The full report can be found here: https://pathologytransformation.org/
- Pathology, the study and analysis of disease, is a critical component modern healthcare. It is estimated that 95% of patient diagnosis and treatment pathways rely on accurate, timely laboratory results and expert analysis and interpretation. Pathology services provide more than 2 billion tests each year in the UK (approx. 40 million tests per year in Northern Ireland).
- The review concludes that fully integrated pathology models deliver improved resilience, performance and efficiency compared with fragmented service arrangements.
- The Department of Health is progressing plans through the Pathology Blueprint Programme to establish a single HSC pathology services agency to provide regional leadership and oversight of pathology services across Northern Ireland. Modernising HSC Pathology Services - Policy Statement | Department of Health
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