Path360 2026: The NHS Pathology Strategy Conference South
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Path360 2026: The NHS Pathology Strategy Conference South
A Skills-Led Summit on Building Sustainable, Digital and Workforce-Ready Pathology Services
Take part in our conference prize draw by visiting all stands and scanning your lanyard at each for a chance to win £100 voucher.
Sponsors & Partners
Pathology underpins more than 70% of all clinical diagnoses and sits at the heart of NHS diagnostic transformation. Yet pathology services continue to face mounting pressure from workforce shortages, rising demand, ageing infrastructure, and the rapid pace of digital and networked service change.
Path360 2026 brings NHS pathology leaders together at a critical moment, as systems move from planning and pilots into delivery at scale. With pathology networks now embedded across England and national programmes accelerating digital pathology, automation, AI, and laboratory integration, the challenge is no longer what to do, but how to deliver safely, consistently and sustainably.
Crucially, this transformation is not limited to histopathology. Blood sciences, microbiology, and laboratory automation are rapidly evolving, with high-throughput automated lines, integrated LIMS platforms, and end-to-end sample logistics reshaping how modern laboratories operate. As diagnostic demand increases, services must rethink workflow design, workforce capability, digital integration, and networked delivery across the entire pathology landscape.
This conference is designed to support that shift. Rather than focusing on policy alone.
Summit Focus:
Path360 2026 is structured around applied learning and real-world delivery. The programme brings together senior NHS leaders, network directors, laboratory managers, and clinical specialists to share tested approaches, frameworks, and lessons from the front line.
Sessions will explore transformation across histopathology, blood sciences, microbiology and laboratory automation, reflecting the increasingly integrated nature of modern pathology services.
The agenda blends Skill Clinics, Leadership Lessons, Deep Dives, and Case Studies, ensuring delegates gain both strategic insight and practical tools they can apply immediately within their own services.
This is not a showcase of innovation in isolation, but a skills exchange on how pathology services are being modernised in practice.
What Delegates Will Gain:
By attending Path360 2026, delegates will leave with clear insight into how to:
- Strengthen pathology network delivery while maintaining quality, resilience, and local accountability.
- Apply digital pathology, AI, and automation safely to improve turnaround times and reporting capacity.
- Address workforce challenges through smarter training, competency management, and role development.
- Improve end-to-end diagnostic pathways, including sample logistics, digital systems integration and clinical collaboration.
- Build robust business cases for investment, transformation, and service redesign.
- Learn from peers who have navigated operational pressure, governance complexity, and system change.
Your Pass Includes....
- This conference is CPD accredited. Attendees will be eligible to gain 8 CPD points upon completion of the event.
- Access to a leading conference speaker programme
- Interactive Q&A sessions
- Leadership Lessons from the Front Line
- Cross-sector best practice
- Meet the supplier opportunities
- Hot breakfast & Lunch included
- Access to post event drinks reception and Street food
Tickets For NHS Senior Managers
We have an invite only option for NHS Senior Managers for our conference, to see if you qualify for a complimentary place please click the button below.
Conference Speakers
Mr Chris Sleight MSc BSc
FIBMS
Chief Executive Officer of Sleight Insights
Formerly Chief Officer of the Greater Manchester Diagnostic Networks
Read biography
Noman
Manzoor
Pathology Laboratory Director, General Manager Pathology , Transfusion and Mortuary Services
South 4 Pathology Partnership Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Read biography
Professor Michael
Osborn
National Speciality Adviser Pathology – Resilience & Sustainability, Clinical Lead Pathology - London Region, Clinical Director North West London Pathology
NHSE, North West London Pathology
Read biography
The programme
Registration & Networking
Registration - Open from 8:20 am - Closes at 11:00 am
All delegates must complete their registration process before the 11:00 AM cut-off time. Please arrive in a timely manner to allow for registration and to avoid any inconvenience. Delegates who arrive after the registration deadline will be refused entry to the event.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain the event's schedule and ensuring that everyone can fully participate in the conference. If you have any questions or require assistance, our event staff will be available to assist you with the registration process.
Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to an insightful and productive event together!
Leadership Insights - Building the Future Pathology Workforce
Session Overview:
Strong scientific leadership will be essential as pathology services navigate increasing demand, technological change and evolving workforce expectations. Developing the next generation of leaders while supporting today’s workforce is now a critical priority for health systems across the UK.
In this leadership insight session, Catherine Ross will share perspectives from across Scotland’s diagnostic services, reflecting on leadership, workforce development and system collaboration.
The discussion will consider how scientific leadership can support innovation, workforce resilience and sustainable diagnostic services.
Morning Skill Clinic - From Vision to Reality: Embedding Digital Pathology, AI and Automation into Day-to-Day Laboratory Practice (TBC)
Session Overview:
Digital pathology, artificial intelligence and laboratory automation are rapidly moving from strategic ambition to operational reality across NHS pathology services. However, successful implementation requires more than technology alone.
This session will explore how laboratories are embedding these innovations into routine practice, examining service readiness, governance frameworks, workforce implications and operational redesign. The discussion will focus on how pathology leaders are aligning digital transformation with clinical assurance, service sustainability and modern laboratory workflows.
Main Sponsor - Source LDPath
Main Sponsor - Source LDPath
About us:
Source LDPath, a part of the Source BioScience group, provides industry leading histopathology services with a focus on digital pathology and AI.
Our comprehensive clinical healthcare offering spans histopathology—integrating digital pathology and AI—through to molecular diagnostics, creating a seamless workflow for precision medicine. Using advanced slide scanning and high-resolution imaging, our digital pathology solutions transform traditional diagnostics with enhanced efficiency and accuracy.
We collaborate with an extensive network of over 280+ of Specialist Consultant Pathologists, all accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists and General Medical Council, while also adhering to the rigorous standards of the College of American Pathologists. By embracing digital pathology and AI, we enable real-time analysis and high-throughput capabilities, empowering pathologists to deliver rapid, high-quality diagnostic insights.
Case Study - ProfilerLive
Case Study - ProfilerLive
About us:
ProfilerLive is a cutting-edge digital training and competency management platform designed to streamline workforce training and compliance processes. ProfilerLive enables organisations to automate training, track competency progress in real time, and ensure regulatory compliance. With its intuitive interface, real-time reporting, and comprehensive analytics, ProfilerLive empowers managers to make data-driven decisions and optimise workforce planning.
Case Study - Diagnexia
Case Study - Diagnexia
About us:
Diagnexia stands at the forefront of digital pathology services in the UK, providing an innovative, on-demand network of expert subspecialty pathologists dedicated to supporting the NHS and healthcare providers across the UK. With a commitment to speed, compliance, and expertise, Diagnexia offers a swift 3-5 day turnaround for primary diagnostic reports and 7-10 days for secondary consults, ensuring timely and accurate diagnostic services. Recognised for its digital excellence, Diagnexia facilitates seamless, intuitive reporting and case management from anywhere, ensuring that the NHS, has access to top pathology minds, thereby enhancing patient outcomes, reducing backlogs, and ensuring balanced workloads across pathology departments.
Keynote Presentation - Implementing Automation in Cellular Pathology at Scale
Session Overview:
Working with NHSE an 7 other network locations across England to truly understand the potential of automation in Cellular Pathology.
Case Study - Clinisys
Case Study - Clinisys
Clinisys is a global provider of intelligent diagnostic informatics solutions and expertise designed to redefine the modern laboratory, across healthcare, life sciences, and public health. Millions of diagnostic results and data insights are generated every day using Clinisys’ LIMS and order communications solutions in over 3,000 laboratories across 34 countries.
For more than forty years, Clinisys has served laboratories operating in a range of industries and disciplines. We equip labs with the efficient workflows, accessible data, and innovative tools needed to offer improved decision making, rapid testing, and advanced diagnostic services.
By defining the optimum modern laboratory platform, we have enabled labs to scale rapidly, respond to their customers with agility, and improve their services and capabilities.
Clinisys’ mission is to enhance the effectiveness of diagnostic workflows in any laboratory or testing environment to keep citizens and communities healthier and safer.
Case Study - Automating pre-analytics: powered by Indexor, a sustainable and safe transport system for Pathology Networks
Case Study - Abbott
From removing the regular pain of fingersticks as people manage their diabetes to connecting patients to doctors with real-time information monitoring their hearts, from easing chronic pain and movement disorders to testing half the world’s blood donations to ensure a healthy supply, our purpose is to make the world a better place by bringing life-changing health technologies to the people who need them. That’s our commitment to helping you live your best life.
NHS Deep Dive - From Network Formation to Single Entity, Lessons from the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology Journey
Session Overview:
A fireside-style conversation reflecting on the two-year journey of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Pathology, moving from a networked model towards a more unified, single-entity approach.
Framed as a discussion with the chair, the session will explore what has worked well, what has been more challenging, and the realities of bringing together services, teams and governance across multiple organisations, alongside reflections on what others should consider when going down a similar route.
Delegate Takeaways
- Lessons from forming and evolving a pathology network into a single entity.
- What has worked well vs what has been more challenging.
- Key considerations and pitfalls for others undertaking similar transformation.
NHS Deep Dive - Pathology Networks in Practice: Governance, Accountability and Operational Flow (TBC)
Speaker:
Dr Rajesh Rajendran - Associate Medical Director (Infection Prevention and Control) & Clinical Lead, Greater Manchester Pathology Network, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (Provisionally Confirmed)
Session Overview:
Pathology networks are now central to the delivery of modern diagnostic services, yet translating network design into consistent, high-performing operational models remains a challenge across many systems.
This NHS deep dive will move beyond strategy to explore how pathology networks are functioning in practice. Drawing on leadership experience across the Greater Manchester Pathology Network, this session will provide a grounded view of how governance structures, accountability frameworks and operational processes are being implemented across multi-provider environments.
The focus will be on the realities of delivering at scale, including managing variation, aligning clinical and operational priorities, and ensuring consistent performance across complex service configurations.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- How pathology network governance operates in practice across multiple providers.
- Approaches to managing performance, variation and demand at network level.
- Balancing clinical leadership with operational accountability in complex systems.
- Practical lessons from delivering transformation across large-scale pathology networks.
- What high-performing pathology networks are doing differently to drive consistency and resilience.
NHS Deep Dive - From Network Design to Operational Delivery: Building High-Performing Pathology Services at Scale
Session Overview:
Pathology networks are now established across the NHS, but delivering consistent, high-performing services at scale remains a significant operational challenge. As systems move beyond implementation, the focus is shifting towards optimisation, sustainability and long-term planning.
In this session, Angela Jean-François shares practical insight from the North West London Pathology network, exploring how services are managing demand, improving turnaround times and maintaining performance across multiple sites.
The session will also examine how networks are preparing for the next phase of transformation, including workforce development, sustainability and aligning operational delivery with long-term system strategy.
This is a practical, experience-led deep dive into what it takes to deliver and sustain high-performing pathology networks in real NHS environments.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Managing demand, flow and turnaround times across networked services.
- Building sustainable workforce models across multi-site pathology systems.
- Delivering consistent performance across complex network structures.
- Embedding sustainability within pathology operations.
- Preparing for the next phase of network transformation.
Afternoon Skill Clinic - The Future of Pathology Networks: Automation, Innovation and the End to End Diagnostic Pathway (Confirmed)
Session Overview:
As pathology services continue to evolve within regional networks, leaders across the sector are navigating a complex transformation landscape spanning laboratory automation, service consolidation, workforce pressures and increasingly sophisticated diagnostic logistics.
This closing panel brings together voices from across the diagnostics ecosystem to explore how blood sciences and microbiology services are being reshaped, how automation and innovation are transforming laboratory operations, and how end to end diagnostic pathways from sample collection through to result delivery must adapt to support faster, more integrated patient care.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Gain insight into how blood sciences and microbiology services are evolving within modern pathology networks and what this means for future service design.
- Understand the role automation and laboratory innovation are playing in improving efficiency, turnaround times and diagnostic capability.
- Explore practical approaches to strengthening end to end diagnostic logistics, from sample collection and transport through to integrated reporting and results delivery.
Breakout Skill Clinic - Making the Case for Change: Building Business Cases for Pathology Transformation (TBC)
Session Overview:
This small-group breakout clinic is designed for delegates directly involved in planning or leading change within pathology services. The session will provide practical guidance on how to build compelling, evidence-based business cases for service redesign, digital investment, workforce development, or network change.
Participants will work through real examples and structured templates, focusing on aligning clinical benefit, operational impact, financial justification, and system priorities.
Key Outcomes:
- Understand the components of a strong pathology business case.
- Learn how to articulate clinical, operational and financial value.
- Take away a clear structure for developing locally relevant proposals.
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