Diagnostic waiting times for February 2023

Responding to February 2023's Diagnostic Waiting Times data for England, Dr Katharine Halliday, President of The Royal College of Radiologists, said:

"February’s waiting time figures continue to show a disappointing picture of diagnostic and cancer services in England. Although they show an improvement on January, there’s still a long way to go.

"A continuing lack of investment in staff, infrastructure and hospitals is preventing doctors from delivering urgent services. The NHS in England would have to employ 404 more diagnostic radiology consultants overnight in order to clear the 6 week wait for CT and MRI scans in one month.

"When looking at the NHS workforce policy, there’s a strong case for change, particularly in light of this week strikes.

"We encourage the Government to release the overdue long-term workforce plan as a priority, with sufficient ambition and funding to address the chronic pressures we are seeing in the national health system."