Testing Times: Nationwide Programme to Support Pathology Workforce Development During COVID-19

From early 2020 pathology networks were required to substantially expand their virology testing capacity on top of ‘usual business’, highlighting the need to build resilience and to ensure they were able to respond to significant changes in demand. In addition to the pressures of COVID-19 testing, the need to ensure that those who were unable to undertake elective treatment during the first COVID-19 wave were able to receive treatment quickly further impacted upon the wider demand for clinical pathology services.

Feedback to the NHS England and Improvement COVID-19 Testing Cell highlighted the development of the pathology workforce as a key factor in expanding testing capacity resulting in significant investment to support workforce recruitment, upskilling and progression to aid the diagnostic response to the current and future challenges. This poster presents a narrative timeline detailing some of this work.