How can we tackle the radiology capacity crisis?

Historically, the public's awareness of the role of radiologists (doctors responsible for the reporting of patient scans such as X Rays, MRI and CT scans) in healthcare management has been low, but the RCR has worked diligently to raise the profile of radiologists as critical to optimising patient care. Medical imaging will be a part of more than 80% of patient episodes,1 with vital input into things like cancer care as well as almost all emergency care. 

This should make the radiology workforce crisis even more alarming to the public. There is a current 30% shortfall of clinical radiologists in the UK, forecast to increase to 40% by 2028; a shortfall that goes in parallel with ever-increasing demands on services. We're seeing year-on-year growth in complex imaging, increased demands for shorter waiting times, increased development of capacity to capture images (for example with the growth in local diagnostic centres) - but without the capacity to report them. This is without even considering the non-reporting aspects of a substantive NHS radiologist's role, and the critical role played in MDTs, which remain pivotal in progressing patient management.

It's concerning then to see data released in the RCR's Workforce Census shows that 49% of full time NHS radiologists who left their substantive posts in the last year were under the age of 50, with a median age of 45 years2 This is around 16 years earlier than other doctors working within the NHS.3 Why? And what lessons can we learn?