Statement on cellular pathology (histopathology) services and Gadeon House
Published: 26 June 2026
We recognise there has been interest and some confusion about plans for pathology services at Torbay Hospital and the use of Gadeon House in Exeter. We want to be clear about what this means for our services and for the people we care for.
Cellular pathology, also known as histopathology, is part of our wider pathology services. While patients do not usually see these services directly, they are essential to diagnosis and treatment decisions, including for cancer and other serious conditions.
At Torbay Hospital, our cellular pathology services are currently delivered from a temporary facility that is no longer suitable for long-term use. While services continue to operate safely, the building does not meet the standards we need for the future.
Earlier plans to replace this facility on site at Torbay Hospital through the New Hospital Programme did not progress, so we have been working to find a safe, modern and sustainable solution that supports the long-term future of these services.
What we are doing
We have secured £4.6 million of NHS England capital funding to develop a new, purpose-built laboratory at Gadeon House in Exeter for our cellular pathology services.
This investment will enable us to carry out routine cellular pathology work in a modern, fit-for-purpose environment, improving safety for our colleagues and resilience for the service overall.
As part of this:
• there will be an interim step to relocate cytology activity to release space and address immediate safety risks on the Torbay site
• the full transition of routine cellular pathology services is expected over the next 12 to 18 months, subject to detailed design, planning and ongoing engagement
• arrangements for any urgent and time-critical cellular pathology work needed to support care at Torbay Hospital will be built into the final operational model.
What this means for patients
There are no changes to where patients receive care.
We know people may be concerned about whether changes to cellular pathology could affect urgent and emergency care or cancer pathways at Torbay Hospital. These arrangements are being designed to ensure that patients continue to receive safe and timely care.
Cellular pathology does not directly support emergency department care in the same way as services such as blood tests. Most cellular pathology work supports diagnosis and treatment decisions over a number of days, including for cancer pathways and national standards are based on these timeframes.
Where cellular pathology results are needed more quickly to support clinical decisions – for example during surgery, or as part of specific cancer pathways -arrangements will be in place to ensure this can continue to happen safely and within the required timeframe.
This means that urgent and time-critical cellular pathology work needed to support care at Torbay Hospital will continue to be provided through clear and agreed processes, including through the acute service laboratory on the Torbay site where this is clinically required.
These changes are about improving how we provide laboratory services, not about moving patient care away from Torbay.
Our pathology colleagues
We know this has been a difficult and uncertain period for colleagues working in pathology services and we want to be clear that they are central to shaping what happens next.
We are continuing to engage directly with our cellular pathology teams, including regular briefings and opportunities to ask questions and raise concerns.
Colleagues are also closely involved in the design, fit-out and day-to-day planning of the new laboratory at Gadeon House, helping to make sure the service is safe, practical and works well for both colleagues and patients.
This work will continue as we move through the next phase of detailed planning and implementation, and we will continue to provide updates as plans develop.
Gadeon House and other organisations
There are separate arrangements in place for the use of Gadeon House.
We are using the building to support our cellular pathology services, funded through NHS England capital and our own lease with Torbay Council.
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has a separate agreement with Torbay Council and plans to locate its blood sciences and microbiology services in the building.
Working with partners
We continue to work with partners across the Peninsula Pathology Network to explore how pathology services can be made sustainable for the future.
Clinical colleagues in cellular pathology, microbiology and blood sciences are working together across the network to understand demand, share expertise and consider future options. This work is at an early stage and no decisions have been taken.
Wider plans for the Torbay Hospital site
Alongside this work, we are continuing to develop plans to improve our estate and support the future of Torbay Hospital.
As part of this, we have purchased land at Edginswell Business Park from Torbay Council. This site is located close to the hospital and provides additional space that complements the main hospital campus.
In practical terms:
- in the short term, it is being used to help ease pressure on the main hospital site, including increasing colleague parking capacity and improving access for patients and visitors
- in the longer term, and subject to planning, it creates opportunities for some support services and future facilities to be located off the main site, helping to free up space at Torbay Hospital itself for patient-facing services
This is part of a wider, phased approach to making the best use of our estate – addressing immediate pressures while supporting the longer-term redevelopment of the hospital.
Our focus
Our priority is to ensure that cellular pathology services are safe, reliable and sustainable for the future, while continuing to support high-quality care for our communities locally.
We will continue to keep patients, colleagues and the wider community informed as this work progresses.