Overview

• The Royal College of Radiologists describes the shortfall in radiologists and oncologists as a ticking time bomb, with seven in ten cancer centre chiefs warning that dangerous delays are putting patient safety at risk.
• Demand for CT and MRI scans rose 8% in 2024 while the radiology workforce grew by just 4.7%, exacerbating backlogs in diagnostic services.
• Average retirement ages have fallen to 50 for radiologists and 54 for oncologists, reflecting increased early departures under workforce pressures.
• By 2029 the UK is projected to face a 39% shortage of radiologists and a 19% shortage of oncologists, with North and West Wales and north Scotland experiencing the deepest regional shortfalls.
• The Department of Health and Social Care has invested £1.5 billion in new surgical hubs and AI scanners and will publish a refreshed workforce plan later this year to address staffing gaps.