In the first three months of 2024, nearly 200,000 patients were left waiting more than a month for the results of their scan, according to the latest NHS Diagnostic Imaging Data.
This is up from 160,000 patients for the same period last year, signalling that test turnaround times are falling behind demand.
The SoR has emphasised the need for support and training for radiographers to help ease these delays.
'This is just unacceptable'
Tom Welton, president of the Society, said: “The anxiety and stress placed on a person waiting to find out what is wrong with them can never be underestimated. To have nearly 200,000 people waiting over a month for this is just unacceptable.
“The radiography workforce up and down the country are working tirelessly to provide for the nation's health but currently the system is failing us. To see the numbers increasing is sadly all too normal for today’s workforce and news of the diagnostic imaging waiting times will sadly not come as a shock for many.
“It is staggering figures like this that justify the need for not only more equipment provision such as X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound but the urgent importance for training, public education and increased job progression opportunities.
“From students and newly qualified radiographers through to advanced practitioners and higher management, radiography needs the increase of funds the public deserves.”
Disparity across regions
For complex scans, used for example to diagnose cancer and including CT, MRI, PET, S-PET and nuclear medicine scans, more than 84,000 patients waited more than a month for the results of their diagnosis, or for cancer to be ruled out.
This compared to around 74,000 in the first three months of 2023.
Charlotte Beardmore, executive director of professional policy for the SoR, said: “It is very concerning to see the increase in the number of unreported images a year on. This impacts care for patients causing delays to their diagnosis and potential impact on their treatment outcomes.
“Despite investment in additional post registration education and training to support radiographer reporting in line with national reporting standards, more investment is required, together with investment in the growth of the entire imaging workforce if the backlogs and delays in accessing imaging and reporting are to be addressed.
“We continue to work with the new government to lobby for more radiography workforce to support service improvement for patients.”
She directed attention to joint guidance documents produced with the SoR for resources on post-registration education and training, for example in musculoskeletal and chest X-ray reporting.
The data also demonstrates significant disparity between different regions.
More than double the proportion of patients in London and the South East waited over a month for the results of their scan compared to in the Midlands.
This risks widening existing health inequalities, and means patients face a postcode lottery of care.
The latest quarterly data release set can be accessed here.
(Image: Tom Welton, by Eva Slusarek)