University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has introduced digital histopathology reporting following an 18-month programme of investment, innovation, and workforce development. According to the trust, the move to a full digital pathology service supports improved reviews of cases and collaboration.
Using the system, specialists can examine tissue samples using high-definition digital images, replacing traditional glass slides, UHNM explains. Glass slides are loaded into specialist scanners which use high-definition digital cameras attached to a microscope to capture hundreds of images that are then “digitally stitched” together to form a complete image of the tissue sample. These images can then be uploaded to the trust’s PACS system to be quality checked and released to pathologists.
Jane Walker, UHNM lead consultant histopathologist, noted the administrative and logistical challenges posed by traditional methods of reporting, stating: “We have been working towards the move to digital pathology for some time and, while there have been some challenges, transitioning to a fully digital service is an exciting and important step which reflects the tremendous collective effort of the team, who have supported one another throughout this transformation.”
Digital reporting will offer “significant benefits for efficiency”, as well as offering new opportunities for collaboration, according to Jane, who reports that the trust will now move to explore how AI can further support and enhance the diagnostic reporting process.
Wider trend: Digital diagnostics
Humber and North Yorkshire Collaboration of Acute Providers annual report for 2025/26 has shared achievements across imaging, diagnostics and order comms, with discussion on next steps and the future of acute care in the region. Focuses for 2025/26 included reducing unwarranted variation and improving timely imaging and reporting through the development of standardised pathways, the collaboration outlines. Procurement has been completed for an order comms solution to support GPs to request imaging tests electronically, along with a shared history and reporting extension to the radiology information system to enable clinicians to view patient imaging completed elsewhere in the network.
NHS England has published a preliminary market engagement notice seeking to explore the feasibility of establishing end-t0-end diagnostic testing pathways for the NHS Online virtual hospital service. The notice outlines NHS England’s intent to use information gathered from the engagement to inform the future commercial and sourcing strategy for diagnostic access, looking at the provider capabilities, digital maturity, and interoperability required to support digital test ordering, appointment booking, and digital notification of results. “Responses will be used solely to improve NHS Online’s understanding of the current market and potential delivery models that could support digitally enabled diagnostic access at scale,” NHSE states.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s planned care improvement plan for 2026/27 has outlined how digital has supported elective care, diagnostics, and cancer pathways. The trust reports entering 2026/27 “from a strengthened position” following its participation in the NHSE Q4 elective sprint looking at outpatient first appointments and procedures, which delivered improvements in RTT performance and waiting list size. This plan, it states, offers “a whole-pathway approach to planned care, addressing access, diagnostics, outpatient and surgical pathways, and reducing delays, cancellations and unwarranted variation”.
