Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of additional radiographers and radiologists required to deliver the increased number of diagnostic imaging scanners referred to in the National Health Service Long Term Plan.

Following the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England commissioned Sir Professor Mike Richards to review diagnostic services, which was completed in October 2020. The review recommended that there should be an expansion in the imaging workforce with an additional 2,000 radiologists and 4,000 radiographers over the next five years. NHS England and NHS Improvement are planning how to implement the report’s recommendations.

In 2020/2021, Health Education England’s Cancer Workforce Plan committed to training 300 reporting radiographers and the NHS People Plan committed to training a further 150. Further workforce requirements will be considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review.