The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is increasingly struggling to meet its diagnostic targets. As of August 2025, over 1.6 million people were on waiting lists for diagnostic tests in England – an increase of 95,500 people since the previous year, and a decade-long rise of 105 percent. Despite the record number of diagnostic tests being conducted, waiting lists show no sign of shrinking, underscoring the rising demand for services.
This backlog highlights an ongoing crisis in diagnostic services, exacerbated by a shortage of qualified staff. The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan reveals a shortfall of approximately 150,000 staff needed to meet demand. This shortage is expected to grow to between 260,000 and 360,000 NHS staff by 2036/37. The impact on patient care is already substantial and, without intervention, will continue to worsen.
Pathology under pressure
Pathology services are a clear example of this strain. Since 2007, histopathology requests have increased by an average of 4.5 percent annually, according to the Royal College of Pathologists. In a 2025 survey by the organization, the majority of respondents said they do not believe current staffing levels are adequate for the long-term stability of pathology services and to meet growing clinical demand.
Pathologists are facing mounting pressure due to rising workloads with greater task complexity, and vacancy rates of 10 to 12 percent – a figure that continues to climb. Many services are struggling to meet critical care targets, and the gap between what’s needed and what’s available is only expected to worsen.
Private sector support
The private sector is stepping up to support key areas under pressure as NHS challenges grow. In 2024, private providers delivered over 1.1 million MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, and echocardiograms.
This is according to an analysis of selected private diagnostics services by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN). Some respondents reported over 20 percent growth in demand over the year, with most seeing double-digit growth. Private healthcare organizations must therefore expand and strengthen their capacity to keep up with rising demand.
Intelligent and targeted automation
As demand for faster, more accurate diagnostics grows, meaningful improvements will depend on intelligent, targeted automation strategies. Over recent decades, pathology laboratories have made a concerted effort to standardize processes and reduce manual tasks, aiming to improve accuracy and patient outcomes. Automating time-consuming tasks like aliquoting solutions into equal parts, centrifugation of fluids, and recapping tubes can greatly increase testing capacity while cutting costs.
Fully integrated, vendor-neutral automation systems help larger labs manage routine steps before and after analysis. This frees up pathologists and technicians to focus on more complex, high-value tasks, like interpreting results and ensuring outputs are accurate and reliable. For automation to make a real difference, however, laboratories need a clear strategy to identify and target where digital solutions can deliver the most value.
Financing smarter labs
While the benefits of expanding automation are clear, financial constraints remain a significant obstacle to implementation. Even with the efficiencies offered by AI integration, many laboratories face capital limitations that delay or prevent adoption.
Fortunately, laboratories have access to a range of financing options that support investment in new technologies without the burden of large upfront costs.
One effective approach is transition finance. By delaying payments until the solution is fully tested and operational, labs avoid paying for both old and new technologies at the same time. Specialist financing can also protect against the risk of technological obsolescence by including options to upgrade or enhance equipment during or after the financing term – a future-ready approach that helps to keep labs at the forefront of innovation.
Other increasingly popular options include managed service contracts, which guarantee a set level of equipment time, along with leasing and pay-for-outcome models. These flexible arrangements spread the cost of new technology over time and link payments to measurable improvements like increased throughput. Moreover, by eliminating the need for large initial investments, they also preserve cash flow and working capital.
Why specialist financing matters
To obtain the most value from automation, labs need both strategic investment and specialized knowledge – alevel of insight not typically available through generalist financiers. Specialist financiers such as Siemens Financial Services bring a deep understanding of diagnostic technologies and their real-world applications. This expertise allows them to assess risk accurately and design tailored financing solutions that meet individual laboratories’ specific needs.
These specialist financing solutions allow healthcare organizations to acquire cutting-edge technology without depleting their capital budgets. This ensures pathology services can meet testing demands without compromising financial stability.
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