News Item • 2 mins read
UKAS welcomes the Pathology Transformation Review, chaired by Lord Carter of Coles, and its recognition of the central role of accreditation and quality assurance in supporting safe, effective and resilient pathology services across the UK.
The report rightly highlights that accreditation coverage remains strong across pathology laboratories, while assurance must continue to evolve with new service models, technologies and testing pathways beyond traditional laboratories.
We welcome the report’s focus on strengthening quality governance through better alignment between UKAS, CQC, NHS bodies, commissioners and other stakeholders. Accreditation demonstrates competence, consistency and confidence, but works best alongside robust governance, transparent data, effective leadership and continual improvement. Recommendations on accountability, harmonised quality management, escalation and meaningful metrics provide a valuable basis for discussion.
The report also highlights the importance of assuring quality across point-of-care testing, digital pathology, genomics and direct-to-patient services. As diagnostic pathways become more distributed, assurance frameworks must support confidence in service quality wherever testing is delivered.
UKAS supports the report’s emphasis on proportionate, risk-based assurance and objective quality data to drive improvement, strengthen visibility of performance, support consistent standards and enable innovation while maintaining patient safety.
UKAS welcomes the report’s broader analysis of pathology challenges, including rising demand, workforce constraints, variable digital maturity and operational consistency. Its focus on resilience, training capacity, advanced practice roles, sustainable service models, interoperable systems and high-quality data reflects priorities fundamental to high-quality diagnostics.
UKAS also notes the report’s view of pathology as an end-to-end diagnostic pathway rather than solely a laboratory service. Recommendations on access, patient pathways, community diagnostics and emerging technologies are highly relevant as healthcare evolves. Maintaining confidence will require innovation and investment, alongside consistent governance, robust validation and effective assurance across care settings.
As pathology services transform, UKAS stands ready to engage with CQC, NHS leaders, professional bodies, government departments and other stakeholders to support effective, proportionate and sustainable quality assurance. Together, we can help ensure innovation, integration and service redesign deliver benefits while maintaining the quality and patient safety the public expects.