Policy and public affairs: 2024 in review

2024 was a year that saw an election, a new government, multiple public inquiries and consultations, policy changes, debates, questions, reports, and more. Take a look back at the biggest moments in the world of policy this year.

January
The year started with the launch of the APPG for Diagnostics’ report into the Community Diagnostic Centre programme. This is to date still the only comprehensive review of the CDC programme, and presented some clear questions and strong recommendations for NHS England. These included the need to ensure adequate staffing levels, without taking away from acute settings. Later in the year, all the major parties in the general election committed to further expansion of CDCs. We will continue to work with the CDC Programme to ensure this expansion is targeted in areas of greatest need and considers the need for additional workforce.

February
The RCR were asked to submit evidence to Module 3 of the Covid-19 Inquiry, which we duly complied with in February. Our submission drew from our records of the College’s guidance issued throughout the pandemic, as well as first-hand experiences that members had previously shared with us. We were able to highlight both how the pandemic put pressure on radiology and oncology services as well as their vital importance to the sustainability of the NHS.

March
In March, the College met with the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss our ongoing work on SACT, following our May 2023 report which detailed the pressures facing oncology departments across the country. Since we published this work, we have seen tangible progress including a designated lead responsible for SACT in every Cancer Alliance, Cancer Alliances having to undertake a bi-annual assessment of SACT supply and demand, NICE publishing a delivery assessment template for all new approvals, and a horizon scanning tool published by NHS England. Similar engagement with the Scottish Government on our SACT work has been happening concurrently, and we have since seen the introduction of a new service model for SACT delivery in Scotland.   

April
Engagement with senior decision-makers on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has been near-constant throughout 2024. In April, the President met with Neil Gray MSP, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. This was a positive discussion that led to a further exchange of information. Mr Gray was extremely positive when it came to the importance of radiology and open to listening to expert advice in terms of how AI is deployed in diagnostic services in Scotland.

May
May saw the launch of the long-awaited ESTRO-HERO report, with an accompanying radiotherapy policy report from the RCR. These documents make the case for sustained investment in radiotherapy services, including in terms of both staffing and capital. Discussions subsequently had with NHSE and DHSC may have contributed to the government’s later commitment to allocate £70 million for new linear accelerators in the autumn budget. 

June
Our annual workforce census reports launched in June, having once again secured a 100% response rate from Clinical Directors and Heads of Service. Huge thanks are due to everyone who returned their census questionnaires – the 100% response rate is a mark of excellence, unique to the RCR’s censuses. Despite a challenging external environment – given an ongoing election campaign – the census nonetheless secured 1000+ pieces of media coverage, including on the BBC, Sky, ITV and more. The census reports also received excellent engagement with members of the three devolved parliaments. The annual census is a key moment for us to ensure that diagnostics and cancer, and challenges associated with both, are kept high on policymakers’ agendas. 

July
No surprise here – July was all about the general election and its aftermath. We kept members up to date with weekly analyses of healthcare policy, and shifted quickly to planning for how to engage a new Labour government. Having privately sent Labour a briefing on their “Fit for the Future Fund” – which promised to double the NHS’s complement of CT and MRI scanners – we were pleased to see that in their manifesto they had increased the money allocated for this purpose from a maximum of £171 to £250 million p.a. – in line with our estimates. 

August
Labour began their period in government by commissioning Lord Ara Darzi to chair a review into the state of the NHS in England. Our President was asked to serve on one of the expert panels providing evidence to the review, which paid off: the final report quoted one of our census statistics (on the use of AI in radiology departments) and made diagnostics a key pillar of the government’s health policy going forward.

September
The RCR is a UK-wide body, so in September we published three reports outlining the state of radiology and oncology in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Engagement with politicians in the three nations was extremely positive. Not only were backbenchers appreciative of the reports, with a number of them tabling important questions for ministers; the College also received official responses from the governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Welsh Health Minister and leader of the opposition requested meetings with us. 

October
This was arguably the biggest month of the year, as Labour presented their first budget in over 14 years. We were particularly keen to understand how their election promises would translate into policy commitments, and how much money the NHS would receive. Overall, health emerged as the ‘winner’ of the budget, with some significant investment in day-to-day services and capital, and with cancer and diagnostics receiving special attention. In our response, though, we were clear that this was only the first of many necessary steps to improving NHS performance and an equivalent focus of the workforce will be needed. 

November
The College’s quarterly analysis of NHSE turnaround times data received a boost this month, when Helen Morgan MP, the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson, raised the importance of investing in radiology during Prime Minister’s Questions. Off the back of this, our Officers were asked to appear on BBC local radio to speak to acute challenges in Shropshire and the West Midlands. BBC Radio 4’s popular ‘PM’ programme later extensively featured the story, bringing it to national attention. 

December
Before the year ended, we responded to the government’s consultation on its upcoming 10-year plan for health. To properly convey your views, we ran an Insight Panel survey about the government’s proposals. The headline figure was that 75% of respondents were not confident that, based on what they had heard, the government would be able to improve NHS performance and reduce waiting lists. We now wait for the results of the consultation, which should come in early 2025. 

Looking ahead
2025 is set to be another busy year, representing you and advancing your interests and concerns. Opportunities will present themselves via the 10-year health plan, the possible upcoming cancer strategy, and the refresh of the long-term workforce plan.

Areas of particular focus for next year include the issue of consultant recruitment freezes, supportive oncology, interventional radiology, and prioritising time for training and leadership.

We know that pressures accumulating in radiology and oncology departments are often serious and that change is desperately needed. In 2025, we will continue to push for this change at all levels.