• The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a national review of radiology reporting.
• The review found significant variation in the timescales for reporting on radiology examinations and a wide range of arrangements in place to monitor and manage backlogs of unreported images at NHS hospital trusts across the country.
• The review was initiated after inspections identified serious concerns around radiology reporting in three NHS trusts.
• It found that the shortage of radiologists is a contributing factor to delays and backlogs in reporting.

Responding the national review of radiology reporting by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the head of analysis at NHS Providers, Phillippa Hentsch, said:

“The CQC is right to shine a light on the variation in radiology reporting in the NHS.

“NHS trusts are committed to providing safe and timely care and this report shows that some patients face unacceptable delays.

This report highlights some of the challenges NHS trusts face in radiology, including growing demand and severe workforce pressures.

Phillippa Hentsch    

“It also highlights some of the challenges NHS trusts face in radiology, including growing demand and severe workforce pressures. 

“We support the CQC’s recommendations for improvements at both trust level and nationally, to ensure trusts have robust governance in place and are able to benchmark performance, as well as addressing workforce shortages.”