Why Getting RCPath MDS Forms Right Matters, and How Smart LIMS Design Can Actually Make It Easier
If you work in cellular pathology, you’ll know that completing RCPath Minimum Data Set (MDS) forms isn’t just another admin task. These datasets underpin the quality of cancer reporting across the UK. They ensure consistency, they help drive national cancer outcomes, and, perhaps most importantly, they provide the structured data that flows to the cancer registry, where it becomes part of research, planning and ultimately patient care.
But knowing something is important doesn’t mean the process is always painless.
For many labs, completing MDS templates can feel rigid, time-consuming or disconnected from the way cases are actually worked up and reported. With the growing expectation for high-quality structured data, departments are often pushed toward purchasing “compliant systems” that do the job, but at a price that makes most budgets wince.
That is exactly the gap we wanted to address with MediLIMS.
Structured Data Is Essential, but So Is Clinical Readability
There is a common frustration among histopathologists. The standard MDS forms are excellent for the registry, but not always ideal for day-to-day diagnostic reporting. A form-structured report is not necessarily what clinicians want to read, especially in complex or nuanced cases.
The challenge is balancing two needs:
- Collecting every discrete data item the RCPath requires.
Tumour size, margins, grading, block key information, lymphovascular invasion, PT staging: the list is long, and it must be captured accurately.
- Producing a clear, clinically useful narrative report.
Clinicians need reports that reflect how pathologists communicate findings, not just how tick‑boxes are arranged.
Traditional fixed-form systems often force you to choose between the two. That choice should not exist.
Why Flexibility Matters More Than Ever
One thing we have learned while working alongside pathology teams is that no two departments structure their work in exactly the same way. Even when everyone follows RCPath standards, local practice, MDT expectations and clinician preferences can vary widely.
This is why MediLIMS was designed without locking users into rigid forms.
Instead, the system allows you to:
- Build forms that replicate RCPath MDS templates if that is what your team prefers.
- Build your own layouts based on your workflow.
- Combine both approaches, using structured fields behind the scenes while presenting the final report in a clear, readable format.
You get the compliance.
You get the freedom.
You do not have to pay for yet another bolt-on application to achieve it.
Automating the Workload, Not Adding to It
A smart system should remove steps, not create more of them.
MediLIMS incorporates features such as:
- Automatic calculation of pTNM values.
- Field validation to prevent missing data.
- Templates that adapt dynamically based on tumour type.
- Real-time data availability for registry integration.
The result is that information is captured consistently, with fewer manual clicks and fewer opportunities for human error.
Because the forms are user-defined, you can adapt or expand them as RCPath updates evolve. There is no need to wait for a vendor release or pay additional development costs.
Keeping Costs Sensible Without Sacrificing Compliance
We all know how expensive “compliant” systems can become. The moment the phrase “cancer dataset” is attached, the pricing often increases dramatically.
Compliance, however, should not be a luxury item.
By embedding dataset support directly within the core LIMS workflow, MediLIMS allows laboratories to:
- Stay aligned with RCPath requirements.
- Deliver high-quality structured data to cancer registries.
- Produce reports that clinicians can read and use easily.
- Avoid paying for dedicated MDS applications.
- Future-proof their workflow as datasets change.
- Automate sending the required XML files to the National Cancer Registration and Analysis service (NCRAS)
It is not about spending more. It is about designing smarter.
The Bottom Line
Accurate MDS completion is essential, both clinically and nationally. However, achieving it should not slow down reporting or inflate departmental budgets.
With the right digital approach, laboratories can collect every required data point and still produce rich, narrative-style reports. They can avoid the rigidity of fixed templates and the cost of multiple applications, while ensuring the cancer registry receives exactly the data it needs.
MediLIMS achieves this by putting flexibility at the centre: your forms, your workflow, your reporting style. All of this is delivered within a system that remains fully compliant and capable of sending discrete data to the cancer registry without the high costs often associated with compliant platforms.
If your lab is looking to modernise structured reporting without losing the art of clear pathology communication, I’m always happy to discuss how this approach can work for you.