The NHS is spending a record £241 million annually on outsourcing the analysis of CT and MRI scans to private firms, according to new data from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). The figure has doubled in five years, rising from £120 million in 2021 and tripling from £81 million in 2018. The RCR warns that spending is 'spiralling out of control' due to a shortage of NHS radiologists.
Hospitals are increasingly relying on private companies to interpret scans quickly, as demand for diagnostic imaging outpaces capacity. However, 86% of radiology department heads expressed concerns that outsourced reports are of lower quality, and 90% said NHS radiologists often need to re-read them. Dr Stephen Harden, RCR president, described the trend as unsustainable, stating that outsourcing is a short-term fix that cannot replace long-term workforce planning.
The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged pressures on radiology services but pointed to a forthcoming 10-year workforce plan to address staffing shortages. Critics, including the Centre for Health and the Public Interest, warn that reliance on private firms could become permanent, diverting funds from the NHS and hindering training of future radiologists.
