UK radiologist exec calls for more government investment to combat staffing shortages
Increasing demand has outpaced the number of radiologists being appointed in the U.K. According to the latest figures from June, 502 patients waited more than six weeks for a CT scan, while 625 individuals waited that long for an ultrasound.
U.K.-based radiologist and treasurer for the Royal College of Radiologists Andy Beale, MD, is calling for the government to invest money into radiology departments. With a shortage of 1,000 radiologists and 7 percent of jobs remaining vacant, the U.K. has the least number of radiologists per person of any country in Europe.
So the basic question is: Why?
“Because the government is not giving us enough money to train radiologists through the system,” Beale said.
The simple laws of supply and demand are putting a squeeze on all medical imaging professionals.
“This increased demand has gone up out of proportion to the number of radiologist being appointed and it’s been going on for 20 years," he said. “Other specialties like gynecology or dermatology, their workload has not gone up the same as radiology. If you come to hospital now everybody expects a scan. Everybody expects an x-ray.”
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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.