RCR calls for urgent government intervention on recruitment freezes

Today, Tuesday 15 September 2026, the RCR has written to Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth MP, calling for urgent action to address recruitment freezes in cancer centres and radiology departments.

The letter has been signed by 185 RCR members and Fellows, including Training Programme Directors, Heads of Service, Clinical Directors and RCR Resident Forum representatives. The letter highlights:

• That recruitment freezes in cancer centres and radiology departments in England have doubled over the last year.

• That these recruitment freezes undermine efforts to meet diagnostic waiting time and cancer treatment targets, and negatively impact patient care.

• That recruitment freezes are creating real concerns for resident doctors, who worry there will be no substantive posts available for them when they qualify.

• That recruitment freezes are also impacting on radiology department and cancer centre ability to take up new training posts, because training capacity is being reduced.

Our letter calls for urgent action from the Minister to intervene in the recruitment freezes Trusts are imposing on cancer centres and radiology departments, and asks her to meet with the RCR to discuss how the patient impact of recruitment freezes can be addressed.