Morning, Tuesday, 23rd March 2027
Online
This conference will examine priorities for the future role of diagnostics in the NHS in England, in the context of the 10 Year Health Plan and National Cancer Plan for England. Delegates will consider what the three strategic shifts, from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention, mean in practice for diagnostic services, amid continuing pressures on capacity and workforce and with around one in five patients waiting six weeks or more for a key diagnostic test. It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess progress and next steps in expanding diagnostic capacity and improving productivity.
Diagnostic capacity, productivity & workforce
Discussion is expected on the implementation and optimisation of Community Diagnostic Centres following recent investment, approaches to reducing waiting times and supporting elective recovery, and the real-world challenges of delivering measurable productivity gains across radiology, pathology, endoscopy and broader diagnostic pathways. Sessions will also examine workforce sustainability, including recruitment and retention, the role of advanced practitioners, outsourcing models and the practical implications of current shortages.
Diagnostics in neighbourhood & community settings
Attendees will consider how diagnostics can be integrated more effectively into neighbourhood health models and community settings. The balance between hospital-based and community provision will be discussed, alongside the development of point-of-care testing, direct access pathways, and the role of primary care and pharmacy in expanding access while addressing health inequalities.
AI adoption & regulation
Further sessions will examine opportunities and challenges associated with scaling innovation in diagnostics. Attendees will explore the safe adoption of AI-enabled tools in imaging and pathology, and digital pathology modernisation. Regulatory developments will also be discussed, including the third phase of the MHRA AI Airlock and the National HealthTech Access Programme, as well as the Government’s acceptance in October 2026 of all 44 recommendations of the National Commission into the Regulation of AI in Healthcare, with an implementation roadmap due by spring 2027.
Emerging technologies & routine adoption
Delegates are expected to assess evidence for, and potential integration of, emerging technologies such as genomics, liquid biopsy and multi-cancer early detection. They will also look at evidence standards, governance, interoperability and the practical requirements for translating innovation into routine NHS practice.
Overview of areas for discussion
- diagnostics policy & delivery:
- 10 Year Health Plan and National Cancer Plan for England - implications for the role of diagnostics in supporting elective recovery, earlier diagnosis and the three strategic shifts
- outcomes and metrics for effective diagnostics policy - evidence from recent investments, including the £237m CDC expansion, and implications for future priorities
- long-term policy, funding and commissioning priorities for sustainable innovation and service transformation
- capacity, workforce & delivery models:
- addressing workforce shortages in radiology, pathology, endoscopy and biomedical science - training, retention, advanced practitioners, reporting radiographers and new professional roles
- balancing NHS provision, outsourcing, teleradiology and independent sector models
- operational models for Community Diagnostic Centres - utilisation, staffing, commissioning and long-term sustainability
- AI, digital transformation & innovation adoption:
- scaling AI in imaging and digital pathology - real-world evidence, productivity gains, clinical safety and value for money
- governance, regulation and evaluation - implementing the National Commission’s recommendations, MHRA AI Airlock, National HealthTech Access Programme, evidence standards and safe deployment at scale
- procurement, PACS and EPR interoperability, data infrastructure and addressing implementation barriers
- neighbourhood diagnostics, early detection & access:
- integrating diagnostics into neighbourhood health models, primary care and community settings - point-of-care testing, direct GP access, mobile and pharmacy diagnostics
- genomics, liquid biopsy, multi-cancer early detection and precision medicine - evidence, pathways and translation into routine practice
- the role of diagnostics in prevention, reducing inequalities and improving access for underserved communities
