Path360 2027: The NHS Pathology Strategy Conference North
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Path360 2027: The NHS Pathology Strategy Conference North
All Convenzis Events Provide 8 CPD Points Per Delegate
A Skills-Led Summit on Building Sustainable, Digital and Workforce-Ready Pathology Services
Sponsors & Partners
Path360 North 2027 will bring together pathology leaders, laboratory professionals, clinicians, healthcare scientists and transformation teams to examine how services can respond to increasing diagnostic demand while improving quality, resilience and turnaround times.
Hosted in Manchester, the conference will showcase current transformation across Greater Manchester and the North, supported by national perspectives on pathology modernisation, cancer diagnostics, workforce development, digital pathology, automation, connected laboratory systems and community testing.
Current Landscape:
Pathology services are entering a critical delivery period. The National Cancer Plan has introduced an ambition for 98% of cancer pathway histopathology tests to be reported within ten days by March 2029, while the 2026 Pathology Transformation Review has called for faster progress on operational integration, workforce planning, standardised data, digital infrastructure and service accountability.
Greater Manchester provides a strong local example of this transformation. Current programmes include connected cancer and diagnostic leadership, shared laboratory information systems, the expansion of pathology supported testing within community settings and closer collaboration between providers across the region.
Key Challenges:
Pathology networks must increase capacity while managing rising demand, workforce shortages and ageing laboratory infrastructure. Progress remains uneven, with organisations at different stages of digital maturity, network integration and automation.
Services must also address interoperability between laboratory and clinical systems, variation in testing and reporting, access to specialist expertise, training capacity and the governance of testing outside traditional laboratories. Investment in technology must be accompanied by redesigned workflows, workforce development and measurable benefits for patients.
Key Event Topics:
- Delivering the pathology ambitions within the National Cancer Plan
- Completing pathology network integration
- Improving histopathology capacity and turnaround times
- Connecting cancer, pathology and wider diagnostic transformation
- Digital pathology implementation and optimisation
- Preparing pathology services for safe artificial intelligence adoption
- Automation and modernised laboratory workflows
- Laboratory information system replacement and interoperability
- Standardising data, testing and reporting across networks
- Expanding advanced and consultant scientist roles
- Developing a sustainable pathology workforce
- Community point of care testing and antimicrobial stewardship
- Quality, governance and accountability across connected services
Who Should Attend:
Path360 North 2027 is designed for Pathology Network Directors, Clinical Directors, Heads of Pathology, Consultant Pathologists, Histopathologists, Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists, Laboratory Managers and those leading pathology operations, transformation, digital systems, workforce, quality and point of care testing. It will also provide valuable insight for Cancer Alliance, Diagnostic Network and Integrated Care Board leaders seeking to improve diagnostic capacity and patient pathways.
Attendance is complimentary for NHS and public sector healthcare professionals, with delegates able to gain 8 CPD points while accessing practical learning from current local and national transformation programmes. The conference also offers high value networking with pathology leaders, peers and solution providers from across the country, alongside complimentary refreshments and lunch throughout the day.
Relevance for Sponsors & Partners
This conference provides a highly targeted platform for diagnostics, pathology, laboratory technology and innovation partners supporting NHS pathology transformation, network maturity and diagnostic service improvement.
Sponsors will be well-positioned to demonstrate how their solutions enable:
- Digital pathology and AI-enabled diagnostic tools that improve reporting efficiency, clinical confidence and service resilience.
- Laboratory automation, workflow optimisation and sample management solutions that reduce pressure across the diagnostic pathway.
- LIMS, interoperability and connected data platforms that support more integrated pathology networks and clinical decision-making.
- Advanced diagnostics, genomics and molecular testing solutions that support earlier diagnosis and more personalised patient care.
- Workforce, training and change management solutions that help pathology teams adopt new technology and improve productivity.
- Data, analytics and benchmarking tools that support pathology leaders with planning, performance improvement and investment decisions.
- Infrastructure, equipment and managed service models that help NHS laboratories scale capacity and modernise services safely.
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
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.
The programme
Registration & Networking
Registration - Open from 8:30 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!
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Chair Opening Address (Confirmed)
Keynote Presentation - Pathology 2027: Completing Transformation and Delivering the New Cancer Standard
Speaker:
Suchita Joshi - National Head of Pathology, NHS England (Invited)
Session Overview:
The sector has moved from making the case for transformation to delivering it. This keynote will examine how pathology networks can complete operational integration, strengthen digital and automation capacity, protect quality and progress towards reporting 98% of cancer pathway histopathology tests within ten days by March 2029.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Understand the immediate implications of the National Cancer Plan for pathology services
- Identify the infrastructure, workforce and operating changes required to improve histopathology turnaround
- Connect national expectations with priorities for local pathology network delivery
Morning Skills Clinic - Connecting Cancer and Diagnostics: Building an Integrated Greater Manchester Network
Speakers:
- Claire O’Rourke (Invited): Managing Director, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
- Molly Pipping (Invited): Senior Programme Lead for Education, Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance
Session Overview:
Greater Manchester has brought its Cancer Alliance and Diagnostics Network under one leadership structure. This interactive session will explore how the teams are connecting pathology, imaging, cancer pathways, workforce development and wider transformation, creating shared priorities across providers and turning network integration into practical improvements in diagnostic access, capacity and patient outcomes.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Understand the opportunities created by integrating cancer and diagnostic networks.
- Explore how shared leadership can align priorities across multiple providers and clinical services.
- Identify practical approaches to strengthening collaboration, accountability and pathway transformation.
Headline Sponsor - Source LDPath
Headline Sponsor - Source LDPath
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.
Morning Break
Got a great question? Ask it during the session for a chance to win a voucher for the best audience question.
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Chair Morning Reflection (Confirmed)
Case Study - ProfilerLive
Case Study - ProfilerLive
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
Case Study
Leadership Interview Session - Leading Pathology Transformation: Turning Integration into Sustainable Delivery
Speakers:
- Angela Jean-Francois (Invited): Managing Director, North West London Pathology
- Dr Sarah Pitt (Invited): President, Institute of Biomedical Science and Principal Lecturer, University of Brighton
Session Overview:
Pathology networks face growing pressure to complete integration while improving productivity, resilience and quality. This leadership interview will examine what effective integration looks like in practice, how leaders can bring clinical and operational teams through significant change and how workforce development, digital transformation and service redesign can deliver sustainable improvements.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Understand the leadership requirements for completing pathology network integration
- Explore how operating models, workforce development and technology can support sustainable delivery
- Learn how established pathology networks have managed transformation while maintaining service performance
Case Study
Case Study
Lunch and Networking
Got a great question? Ask it during the session for a chance to win a voucher for the best audience question.
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Chair Afternoon Address (Confirmed)
Case Study
Case Study
NHS Deep Dive - Replacing Legacy LIMS at Network Scale: Standardisation Without Service Disruption
Speakers:
- Beth Tumilty (Invited): Programme Lead, Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
- Mark Gordon (Invited): Associate Divisional Director for Pathology, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Session Overview:
Stockport completed its blood sciences LIMS deployment in 2026 as part of Greater Manchester’s move towards interoperable laboratory systems. This deep dive will examine implementation across different trusts, harmonisation of test names and interfaces, engagement with clinical teams and how connected results can reduce duplication and support faster decisions.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Identify the essential preparation required before replacing a legacy LIMS
- Understand how standardisation supports interoperability and shared reporting
- Learn how to manage clinical, digital and operational risks during implementation
Case Study
Case Study
NHS Deep Dive - Pathology Beyond the Hospital: Scaling Safe Community Point of Care Testing
Speakers:
- Dr Sharman Harris (Invited): Consultant Clinical Scientist and Clinical Lead for Point of Care Testing, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Murugesan Raja (Invited): Clinical Lead for Respiratory Disease in Primary Care, Greater Manchester
Session Overview:
Greater Manchester’s community respiratory testing model is providing rapid infection and inflammatory marker results within primary care. This session will examine clinical governance, workforce, connectivity, commissioning and antimicrobial stewardship, showing how pathology led testing can support immediate decisions, reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing and prevent avoidable hospital attendance.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Understand the governance required for pathology supported testing outside laboratories
- Explore how rapid diagnostics can improve prescribing and patient flow
- Identify the evidence needed to commission and scale community testing
Afternoon Skills Clinic - A Workforce Fit for Modern Pathology: Skills, Roles and Capacity
Speakers:
- Gareth Richardson (Invited): Pathology Programme Director, Greater Manchester Diagnostics Network
- Joanna Andrew (Invited): IBMS Past President and Network Lead for Blood Sciences, Scarborough, Hull and York Pathology Service
Session Overview:
Digital pathology and automation will change how services operate, but they will not resolve workforce shortages alone. This panel will consider advanced scientific practice, consultant scientist development, protected training capacity, flexible network deployment and how services can introduce technology while retaining expertise, supporting progression and maintaining safe professional accountability.
Delegate Outcomes:
- Identify workforce changes that must accompany digital investment and automation
- Explore how advanced scientific roles can release specialist clinical capacity
- Consider practical approaches to retention, development and shared training across pathology networks
Tea, Coffee & Networking
Got a great question? Ask it during the session for a chance to win a voucher for the best audience question.
End of Day
Every attendee makes a difference. We’ll donate one tree for every delegate attending the conference to our partners over at Play it Green and £1 to our Charity of the Year, Stockport Without Abuse.
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