Is staff shortages in radiology making patient conditions worse?

Cancer patients are waiting longer for diagnoses, longer for treatment and, in some cases, becoming more seriously ill because there are not enough specialist doctors working in NHS cancer and radiology services.

New workforce figures from the Royal College of Radiologists reveal that almost 8 in 10 radiology leaders have seen patients’ conditions worsen because of staffing shortages. Half of cancer centre leaders say the same. Nearly 9 in 10 cancer leaders report delays to patients starting treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Doctors say the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous, with overstretched services struggling to keep up with rising demand for scans, cancer care and complex treatments.

Ros spoke to Dr Stephen Harden, president of the Royal College of Radiologists and NHS consultant radiologist specialising in heart and lung imaging.