Cancer survival rates hampered by shortage of NHS pathologists.

Time-lag in training specialists to meet growing demand means that diagnoses and life-saving treatment are dangerously delayed.

Government promises to improve cancer survival rates and reduce hospital superbugs are under threat because of a lack of pathologists. Seriously ill patients are missing out on life-saving treatments because of a shortage of highly trained specialists in some areas, according to the Royal College of Pathologists (RCoP).

Pathology is vital to the NHS: more than 70 per cent of all diagnoses are dependent on pathology tests. The equivalent of 14 different lab tests – biopsies, cervical smears, blood tests and the like – were carried out for every person in the UK last year.

Histopathologists work with tissues and provide information such as the type, stage, and grade of cancer. This is used to assess which type of hormonal, chemical, or radiotherapy treatment would be most effective.

We are working on computer imaging/ analysis/ software development methods to help pathologists in their decision making process.

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