Imaging exams increasingly outsourced in Scotland due to radiologist shortage
Healthcare providers in Scotland have outsourced more than 398,000 imaging exams to external providers since 2015, according to statistics released by the Scottish Liberal Democrats this week. Two health boards did not provide their full numbers, meaning the final number could be much higher.
This latest news comes as the area continues to deal with a shortage of radiologists to interpret imaging exams.
“NHS (National Health Service) boards are having to rely on private sector providers to interpret hundreds of thousands of scans that are essential to treating patients,” said Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP, according to a report published by Planet Radio. “The body for radiologists in the Scottish NHS has warned that the profession is on the brink of collapse.”
Additional Radiology Business coverage of the ongoing situation in Scotland is available here, here, here and here.
Click below for the full story from Planet Radio.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.