2025 clinical radiology workforce census report
State of the workforce
Thanks to the insights shared by departments across the UK, our census provides one of the most comprehensive pictures of the clinical radiology and clinical oncology workforce available today. It gives us the evidence we need to represent the specialties and advocate for change.
2025 Census Reports
The 2025 census highlights the continuing pressures facing services. While workforce shortages remain a challenge nationally, the findings also show that some areas are experiencing these pressures more acutely than others, particularly in smaller, rural and under-resourced services.
The report explores the impact these pressures are having on patient care, training and workforce sustainability, and sets out recommendations to help build stronger workforces for the future.
Key takeaways
0X
Demand for complex imaging is growing twice as fast as the clinical radiology workforce.
0%
Cancer leaders reporting delays to patients starting radiotherapy or SACT due to staff shortages
£0million
Spent on outsourcing, insourcing and locums last year to meet excess demand in radiology.
0X
Double the number of cancer centres experienced a recruitment freeze in 2025 compared to 2024
0%
Clinical radiology consultants are forecast to retire by 2035
£0million
The NHS could save up to £120m by training up 10% more radiologists per year and 10 more clinical oncology consultants per year.
How we use the data to help our Fellows and members
Our census covers 100% of UK cancer centres and radiology departments, making it one of the most credible sources of information about our specialties.
The data is shared with local radiology departments and cancer centres to help with business case development and is regularly cited in:
parliament
the media
publications from government
the NHS
health charities
think tanks
It also helps shape our campaigning, ensuring what we’re saying to government accurately reflects the on-the-ground reality.
Read our press release
Policy briefings
This year we have published four separate census briefings which outline the headline figures in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England. These briefings reveal unique workforce challenges in each of the four UK nations and propose recommendations that will help address them.
Read the reports
2024 clinical radiology workforce census report
2024 clinical oncology workforce census report
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