A new white paper from the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath), developed in partnership with Roche Diagnostics UK & Ireland, argues that wider adoption of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) will be essential if the UK National Health Service (NHS) is to deliver the ambitions of its 10-Year Health Plan. Titled Making Every Test Count, the report examines how diagnostic testing can support the health service’s three strategic priorities: shifting care from hospitals into the community, moving from sickness to prevention, and accelerating digital transformation.
The report highlights diagnostics as a critical, yet often under-recognized, part of healthcare delivery. It notes that IVDs influence around 70 percent of clinical decisions while accounting for less than one percent of NHS spending. Despite recent investment in community diagnostics and growing interest in artificial intelligence (AI), the authors argue that inconsistent adoption, fragmented procurement, workforce shortages, and limited digital interoperability continue to delay patient access to proven technologies.
To illustrate the potential impact of diagnostics, the white paper presents several real-world examples. Community-based point-of-care testing for influenza and other respiratory viruses reduced test turnaround times from three days to 20 minutes in pilot programs, while also supporting more targeted treatment decisions and reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. The report suggests that expanding these services could help relieve winter pressures on hospitals by enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment closer to patients’ homes.
The report also points to self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) as an opportunity to improve participation in cervical cancer screening, particularly among underserved groups. Combined with existing vaccination programs, wider access to self-collection could strengthen efforts to prevent cervical cancer through earlier detection of people at risk.
Digital pathology represents the third major focus. According to the report, AI-enabled image analysis could help laboratories manage growing workloads by prioritizing urgent cases, supporting biomarker assessment, and improving access to specialist expertise. However, achieving these benefits will require investment in digital infrastructure, workforce training, and interoperable laboratory information systems.
The final section sets out recommendations for the NHS governing bodies. Proposed actions include accelerating digital pathology adoption, developing funding pathways for new diagnostics, establishing a dedicated transformation fund, creating a single diagnostic record across the NHS, and updating health technology assessments to reflect the wider value of diagnostic testing across patient pathways.
Bernie Croal, President of the Royal College of Pathologists, said, "This white paper brings into sharp focus how urgently action from government, in all UK nations, is needed to enable pathology services to optimize use of cutting-edge in vitro diagnostics for the benefit of patients. Without these and other future-proofing actions outlined in this report, the ambitions of the 10-Year Health Plan for England, and its equivalents in our devolved nations, cannot be realized."
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