Jonathan Ashworth comments on Royal College of Radiologists' concerns that patients face long waits for scans and X-rays due to workforce shortfall

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on concerns from the Royal College of Radiologists that patients face long waits for scans and X-rays due to a 33 per cent shortfall in the workforce, said:

“Years of underfunding and cutbacks meant we entered the crisis with waiting lists growing and targets for cancer treatment missed and these have only continued to grow during the pandemic.

“It is now crucial that there is an NHS rescue plan that includes a proper plan to recruit and train the NHS staff we need to bring down waiting lists and leave services fully staffed for the future. And we need the very best cutting edge technology and equipment to deliver the standards of care people deserve.

“Leaving patients in limbo waiting for tests and treatment risks their condition worsening leading to permanent disability, loss of livelihood and tragically for some loss of life – Ministers must put patients first and do all they can to bring down these spiralling waiting lists.”