The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has issued a stark warning about the impact of staffing shortages on cancer care in the UK. According to a new survey, eight in 10 radiology leaders and half of cancer leaders believe that staff shortages are causing patients' conditions to deteriorate.
Survey Highlights Widespread Delays
The RCR surveyed clinical directors at all 159 radiology departments and all 60 cancer centres across the UK. The findings reveal that nine in 10 cancer leaders have observed delays in patients starting radiotherapy or drug-based treatments, such as chemotherapy, due to insufficient staff.
One cancer centre lead stated: "[Staff shortages are causing] delays in patients starting both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment." Another noted: "Workforce shortages in diagnostics, especially radiology and pathology, are critical and lengthening pathways, leading to patient harm." A third added: "Significant delays in scan acquisition and reporting have negatively impacted prognosis, potential treatment options, and resulted in harm."
Workforce Shortfalls Worsening
The RCR reports that the UK has 32% fewer radiologists (over 2,300) and 17% fewer clinical oncologists (over 230) than needed to meet current demand. These shortfalls have increased since 2024, from 29% to 32% for radiologists and 15% to 17% for clinical oncologists, and are expected to worsen.
Demand for scans is growing at more than twice the rate of radiologist recruitment, while retirements exacerbate the problem. Recruitment freezes have doubled in a year, forcing hospitals to rely on expensive agency staff and overtime. In 2025, the UK spent a record £362 million on outsourcing, paid overtime, and locums in radiology alone.
Concerns Over Outsourcing Quality
Leaders have raised concerns about the quality of outsourced work, with scans often requiring further checks. A radiology clinical director said: "Workforce shortages delay report turnaround time, impacting patient care. Increasingly, the shortfall is met with outsourcing, which reduces quality and increases pressure on local radiologists for second review."
Dr Stephen Harden, RCR president, said: "Delays to diagnosis and cancer treatment are extremely dangerous, particularly in deprived and rural communities where shortages are worst. Despite our members' extraordinary efforts, we simply don't have enough clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists to meet rising demand. Recruitment freezes and growing reliance on outsourcing are making the situation worse. Alarm bells should be ringing for governments across the UK. Without urgent action to train, recruit, and retain more doctors, more patients will suffer."
Charities Voice Concerns
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: "Behind every delayed test result is a real person lying awake at 3am waiting for news that could change everything. Too many people affected by bowel cancer are already waiting far too long for tests, scans, and answers, and workforce shortages are making it worse."
Melanie Sturtevant, from Breast Cancer Now, added: "With a significant proportion of the specialist breast cancer workforce approaching retirement within five years, urgent action must be taken to stop the situation deteriorating further. NHS staff are working tirelessly under intense pressure but cannot continue to deliver the care patients need without workforce capacity that matches rising demand."
Recent NHS Performance Data
Last week, NHS figures for England showed that 75.9% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days in April, down from 79.4% in March but above the 75% target. The proportion starting first definitive treatment within 62 days was 70.0%, down from 72.8% in March. The Government aims to reach 75% by March 2026.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association, highlighted that the shortage of radiologists also affects stroke patients, who may miss out on thrombectomy procedures that can reduce lasting disabilities.
