The Royal College of Radiologists welcomes today’s Audit Scotland report into workforce planning in secondary care in Scotland, echoing its recommendations that officials and employers must comprehensively plan trainee consultant intake based on projected patient demand.
Dr Grant Baxter, consultant radiologist and chairman of The Royal College of Radiologists’ (RCR) Standing Scottish Committee, said:
“We welcome Audit Scotland’s recommendation that the Scottish Government, health boards and trusts plan their workforce requirements in accordance with clearly calculated demand.
“Clinical radiology and oncology services are under chronic strain. If the Government does not act promptly to fund and deploy more trainees to meet this clearly documented need, it will be placing the lives of our patients at risk.
“The RCR has already suggested a range of extra solutions to ease the escalating pressure on Scottish imaging and oncology departments – including enticing overseas consultants and smarter working practices – and we hope these suggestions will be recognised in the Government’s comprehensive health and social care workforce plan, due to be published next year.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Emma Cooper on 020 7406 5941 or email emma_cooper@rcr.ac.uk. For out of office hours please call 07554 998197.