UK Expands Digital Pathology Services Nationwide

The UK’s first national digital pathology platform has expanded with the addition of University College London Hospitals’ National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, bringing the total number of NHS sites connected to the network to 15.

This rollout is part of the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative initiative, based at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which aims to develop a national digital pathology infrastructure to support faster diagnosis and improve collaboration between specialist pathologists.

The latest rollout covers the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, the UK’s largest dedicated neurological and neurosurgical hospital, which provides specialist diagnosis, treatment, and care for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system.

The platform enables pathologists to securely access and analyze high-resolution digital pathology slides remotely, reducing reliance on traditional glass slide workflows and allowing for more efficient collaboration.

NPIC said the technology can help reduce diagnostic turnaround times, improve access to specialist second opinions, and remove the need to transport physical slides between NHS organisations.

Dr Angela Richard, head biomedical scientist in the Neuropathology Department at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, said that working with the National Pathology Imaging Co-operative has allowed their department to deliver a locally led implementation tailored to their service.

They are now at an exciting early stage of adoption, with digital pathology beginning to be embedded into routine practice and providing a strong foundation for future service development, according to Dr Richard.

The program is delivered in partnership with Exponential-e, Sectra, and Leica Biosystems, with each partner playing a key role in the development and implementation of the digital pathology platform.

For instance, Exponential-e provides the hosting platform for Sectra’s centralized picture archiving and communication system, enabling secure storage and sharing of digital pathology images for clinical care and research, while Leica Biosystems supplies digital pathology scanners.

NPIC’s focus for the remainder of 2026 is to continue expanding the network while introducing AI-enabled diagnostic capabilities intended to support pathology reporting, particularly for cancer and other complex diseases.

Usman Arif, program head at NPIC, said that their continued expansion evidences their commitment to building a national digital pathology ecosystem across the UK, with partner NHS trusts benefiting from a secure, scalable infrastructure that will enable AI integration into routine diagnostic workflows.

The network includes organizations such as Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, alongside the newly connected National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, and is expected to continue growing with the addition of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital later this year.