UK radiologist shortage has impacted cancer care

A shortage of senior radiologists is affecting cancer care in the U.K., according to a new report from the BBC.

Royal College of Radiologists have called the the shortage “unacceptable" and requested the government take action. Meanwhile, experts estimate workloads for radiologists have increased by 30 percent between 2012 and 2017. In addition to the lack of radiologists, complex conditions of elderly patients have compounded problems, leading to longer wait times.

"I can't overestimate how worrying it is,” said Nicola Strickland, MD, president of the Royal College of Radiologists. “I do really feel the entire service will collapse if something isn't done about training more radiologists in the UK to fill all the vacant consultant posts, so we have to get imaging properly staffed—and right—and enough radiologists trained to make up this deficit."

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As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.

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