The Conservative Party manifesto has pledged to increase NHS spending, reduce waiting lists and invest in technology – but the SoR has warned this may not be enough.
The Society has welcomed pledges to spend on tech, which the Conservatives say will help clinicians read MRI and CT scans more quickly and accurately.
However, while technology may help reduce scan interpretation, it will not improve scanning times, the SoR has warned.
Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Ensuring the NHS is secure for the future is personal to me. That's why I've got a clear plan to cut waiting lists and deliver a faster, simpler and fairer NHS for patients.”
Recent figures show that NHS waiting lists have risen for the first time in seven months, now standing at 7.57 million.
'Tech needs people'
Dean Rogers, director of industrial strategy for the SoR, said: “Investment is, of course, very welcome: new machinery will be more efficient and effective than the old machines in many departments.
“But tech needs people. Technology will reduce the time it takes to interpret a scan, but not the time it takes to conduct one. For that, you still need radiographers delivering patient care.”
The Conservative Party has also pledged to open a further 50 community diagnostic centres (CDCs), delivering an extra 2.5 million checks a year.
But the independent Richards Report found that staffing CDCs requires an additional 4,000 radiographers, as well as 2,000 radiologists and 500 advanced practitioners.
Mr Rogers said: “None of the Conservatives’ CDC pledges have included any funding to cover staffing costs.
“CDCs have had to draw on existing radiography staff to fill posts – leaving hospital acute departments chronically understaffed as result. So even an increase in the number of CDC scans will not lead to an overall increase in the number of scans carried out – it will simply mean that not as many scans are taking place in acute settings.”
'Do more and spend more'
The Long-Term Workforce Plan will expand training places for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, and the party has pledged to recruit 92,000 more nurses and 28,000 more doctors
But the Society warned this will only help produce staff during the parliament after the next.
“To bring down waiting times for diagnosis and treatment before then, any government will need to do more and spend more,” Mr Rogers added.
Before the pandemic, the Conservatives spent 20 per cent less than the EU15 (the 15 original nations in the European Union, including France, Germany and the UK) average on health and social care.
'A serious and credible workforce plan'
The average vacancy rate for diagnostic radiography has risen to 13.4 per cent.
“With demand growing and the workforce shrinking, NHS waiting times are only going to grow longer and longer, with fewer patients receiving the care they need, when they need it – despite the Tories’ pledges,” Mr Rogers concluded.
“This manifesto seems to acknowledge the problems besetting the NHS, but without offering any solutions. Without closing the gap between the supply of staff and the known rise in demand, waiting lists will continue to grow. The government needs a serious and credible workforce plan to tackle recruitment and retention in the radiography workforce."
Mr Rogers called on all political parties to support the Radiography Manifesto to ensure departments are fully staffed, workers are fairly treated, and patients receive the care they need.
(Images: Rishi Sunak announcing the launched of the Conservative party manifesto by Leon Neal/Getty Images)