Wales Is 88 Radiologists Short, and Cancer Patients Wait
Cancer patients in Wales say slow scan results could separate life from death. The Royal College of Radiologists puts the shortfall in NHS Wales at 88 radiologists, or 28% of the workforce it needs.
A first for the college's reporting
This is the first time the college has reported seeing some patients' conditions "deteriorating" while they wait for diagnostic scans and tests. Radiologists are doctors who use images to diagnose and manage diseases.
The gap is uneven. Data from the college's 2025 clinical radiology census shows a 42% shortfall in consultant radiologists across north and west Wales. In south Wales the figure is 22%. The north and west are among the worst affected areas in the whole UK.
What patients describe
Beverly Scott was diagnosed with ovarian and peritoneal cancer 14 years ago. She was given five years to live and took part in medical trials at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. Continual treatment now keeps her cancer stable. She belongs to the Pwllheli and Pen Llŷn cancer support group in Gwynedd.
Scott fears that late scans could let the disease spread without anyone noticing. "For the past 14 years, I have lived with scans," she said.
Karen Jones, from the same group, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Colon cancer followed, and the breast cancer returned in 2021. She described the wait for results as a state of limbo.
Why Wales is short
One of the main reasons for the shortage is recruitment freezes, which have hit more radiology departments in Wales than in any other part of the UK. In 2024 its radiology workforce grew by just 1.1%. The UK average was 5%.
Dr Owen Nicholas is a consultant oncologist in Swansea and chairs the Welsh committee of the college. He said the problem is spreading to staff. A clinician may have to tell an anxious patient that the report has not arrived, or cancel an appointment because a scan result is missing.
The health board's answer
Betsi Cadwaladr health board covers one of the hardest-hit areas. Its executive medical director, Clara Day, said she understood the figures could be very worrying for patients. She said the board is recruiting actively in radiology and oncology.
Day said demand for imaging has risen substantially. Even so, she said waiting times for scans and results have fallen since April, which she credited in part to a partnership with an outside provider. The board is also working with the North Wales Medical School on future workforce development.
Our view
The two accounts can both be true. The board reports faster reporting times since April, while the college counts missing posts and patients who are getting worse. What would settle it is how long cancer patients in north Wales wait for scans, set beside the 42% consultant gap. Recruitment freezes, named as one of the main reasons for the shortage, are the other open question, because the workforce grew far slower than the UK average in 2024.
Source: BBC News