RCR responds to Autumn Budget 2026
Responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget announcement today, 28th October, Dr Stephen Harden, President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said:
In a Budget that did not include many announcements for the NHS, we were pleased to see a review of productivity and AI that aims to help doctors spend less time on admin and more time caring for patients.
We know that AI tools can support radiologists and cancer doctors to work more efficiently and accurately, and in the short term, they could boost productivity the most when used to relieve doctors’ admin burden. However, the UK needs 2,300 more radiologists and 230 more cancer doctors just to meet the current demand for diagnostics and cancer care. AI cannot fill that gap.
Our specialties are at the cutting edge of AI adoption, and we stand ready to offer our expert advice to government as it conducts this review.
Notes to editors
Media contact: [email protected] 02038054065
The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) is the leading professional membership body for clinical radiologists and clinical oncologists
Clinical radiologists are specialist doctors who use imaging to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases and injuries
Clinical oncologists are specialist doctors who manage cancer and prescribe drug-based treatments and radiotherapy