NHS Improvement has announced 29 potential pathology networks, allowing the transformation of pathology (laboratory) services across England

NHS Improvement has been working with providers since 2016 to validate pathology data. These data collections have enabled the NHS to construct its most comprehensive picture of pathology services across the country, through which it is able to compare overall, regional and local performance year-on-year. The analysis shows that the 105 hospitals in England which provide pathology services typically do 1.12 billion tests per year at a cost of £2.2 billion.

Delivery of potential efficiencies includes:

• The 105 individual pathology services within NHS Hospitals in England will join-up, and form a series of 29 networks;
• The new networks will bring together clinical expertise, ultimately making these services more efficient that deliver better value, high-quality care for patients;
• Enhance career opportunities for staff, whilst being more efficient, delivering recurrent projected annual savings to the NHS of at least £200m

A detailed description of proposed Pathology Consolidation Networks can be found here.

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