Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the publication of the latest Pathology Transformation Review, describing it as a timely, UK-wide assessment that underscores the essential role of pathology services, their workforce and infrastructure in diagnosing and treating disease. The review examines services across the UK and provides an evidence-led basis to guide future decisions.

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.

He said: "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 report's central conclusion is that modernisation and integration deliver clear benefits, and that completing the transformation already under way should now be the priority. It recommends full operational integration of pathology services, echoing the Department of Health's stated direction as set out in its 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. He added: "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 in the review include strengthening workforce planning, creating a national dataset, accelerating digital transformation, embedding accountability, and reinvesting savings from service changes.

Recognising growing demand for diagnostics and pressure on staffing, the Minister welcomed the review's emphasis on directing efficiencies back into frontline 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.

He said: "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"

The review was chaired by Lord Carter of Coles and commissioned by the Institute of Biomedical Science. Pathology supports an estimated 95% of diagnosis and treatment pathways, with over two billion tests conducted annually across the UK, including around 40 million in Northern Ireland. The review concludes that fully integrated models offer greater resilience, performance and efficiency than fragmented arrangements. The Department of Health is progressing its Pathology Blueprint Programme to establish a single regional HSC pathology services agency in Northern Ireland, in line with this direction of travel.