The demand for diagnostic imaging in the NHS is increasing. With an ageing population and rising rates of chronic disease, imaging services are needed more than ever. However, capacity constraints—driven by workforce shortages, increased demand and the need for more efficient workflows—mean longer patient waiting times and backlogs.
NHS Trusts must look at ways to improve efficiency, maximise existing resources, and explore flexible approaches to staffing and service delivery. Maximising imaging capacity doesn’t always mean new equipment; instead, strategic improvements in service delivery, workforce planning, and patient pathways can help radiology departments meet demand while maintaining high-quality care.
Key Challenges in NHS Radiology Departments
Growing Demand for Imaging Services
Diagnostic imaging is at the heart of patient care, from cancer diagnosis to emergency treatment. Demand for imaging services has increased significantly recently, but radiology departments struggle to keep up. Without effective strategies to manage demand, patient waiting times will continue to rise.
Workforce Capacity
One of the biggest challenges for radiology services is a shortage of trained imaging professionals. Recruiting and retaining skilled radiographers, sonographers, and reporting radiologists is difficult and impacts NHS Trusts’ ability to keep up with demand. Without enough staff, imaging services can’t operate at full capacity, so scans and reports take longer.
Equipment Utilisation and Service Availability
While the NHS has invested in new imaging equipment, it’s not always used to full capacity. Many radiology departments only operate within standard working hours, limiting the number of patients that can be scanned daily. Extending service hours and using existing resources can reduce backlogs and improve patient access.
Strategies to Maximise Imaging Capacity
Extended Imaging Hours
Some NHS Trusts offer evening and weekend imaging sessions to increase capacity and improve patient access. Extending service hours—whether in-house or through external partnerships—can help meet demand more effectively and reduce waiting lists.
Flexible Staffing
Radiology workforce shortages mean many trusts cannot meet imaging targets. By adopting a more flexible staffing model—temporary imaging specialists, mobile service teams, or locum support—trusts can maintain capacity during peak times, sickness absences, or recruitment gaps.
Streamlining Imaging Pathways
How patients are referred for scans can improve efficiency across radiology departments. Strategies such as better scheduling, improved triage systems, and faster reporting can ensure patients get scanned and results sooner, reducing pressure on hospitals and clinics.
Mobile and Modular Imaging Services
Mobile and modular imaging services are the flexible solution for trusts with physical space constraints or needing additional imaging capacity. These units increase scanning capacity without requiring permanent infrastructure changes, which is ideal for tackling backlogs or supporting community healthcare initiatives.
How RMS Helps NHS Radiology Departments
RMS works with NHS Trusts to maximise imaging capacity through:
- Flexible staffing support – Radiographers and imaging specialists are supplied to maintain service delivery.
- Mobile MRI and CT services – Increase imaging capacity with fully equipped temporary scanning units.
- Specialist ultrasound services – Support musculoskeletal, vascular and other specialist ultrasound scanning.
- Extended service provision – Help NHS Trusts with additional imaging capacity to reduce waiting times.
- Community Diagnostic Centre support – Assist trusts in establishing and managing CDCs to improve local access to diagnostic imaging.
By focusing on adaptable patient-centred solutions, RMS helps NHS radiology departments overcome capacity challenges and deliver high-quality diagnostic services.
Maximising Imaging Capacity with RMS
Maximising imaging capacity in the NHS requires workforce planning, optimised service delivery, and strategic resource use. By using flexible approaches like extended hours, mobile imaging solutions, and external staffing support, NHS radiology departments can be more efficient and maintain high-quality patient care.
Through partnerships and tailored support organisations like RMS, NHS Trusts can help manage the increasing demand and get patients scanned and diagnosed sooner.
