Recruitment freezes in UK imaging and cancer departments
Through our analysis of preliminary 2024 census data (to be published in 2025), we have found that:
At least a fifth of NHS trusts are pausing the recruitment of their cancer or diagnostics workforce, undermining ambitions to cut waiting lists and improve early diagnosis of cancer.
There are freezes in every region in England, and every UK nation. This undermines workforce growth despite rising patient demand.
Widespread recruitment freezes across the NHS mean there may not be enough consultant posts for newly qualified radiologists and oncologists in 2024. This creates inefficiencies, limits patient care improvements, and exacerbates waiting lists.
At least a fifth of NHS trusts are pausing the recruitment of their cancer or diagnostics workforce, undermining ambitions to cut waiting lists and improve early diagnosis of cancer.
There are freezes in every region in England, and every UK nation. This undermines workforce growth despite rising patient demand.
Widespread recruitment freezes across the NHS mean there may not be enough consultant posts for newly qualified radiologists and oncologists in 2024. This creates inefficiencies, limits patient care improvements, and exacerbates waiting lists.
We will be sharing this briefing directly with NHS England leadership and other key policymakers. To rectify this issue, we are calling for:
- Trusts who have been placed under funding freezes by national NHS bodies should be allowed to continue to invest in their cancer and diagnostics workforce.
- All hospitals should be required to develop a long-term funding plan for the cancer and diagnostics workforce, which covers both training and consultant posts.
- The Government should prioritise the radiology and oncology workforce in the Spending Review 2025, by growing the number of specialty training places to meet rising demand.
To raise awareness of the issue and ensure our asks our heard at a national level, we have written to the Rt Hon Karin Smyth MP, Health Minister with responsibility for workforce, to call for this issue to be urgently raised in conversations with NHS England. We have also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Wales and Scotland to bring attention to the issue.
You can read our letter to Rt Hon Karin Smyth MP here.
We are engaging directly with MPs, requesting their support in raising the issue in Parliament and with their local trust.
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