NHS must make greater use of AI

Tech could 'revolutionise healthcare'

- Harry Stedman

THE NHS must make more use of artificial intelligence to help meet waiting time targets as staff shortages are expected to worsen, ministers are warned.

A rollout is urgent as the current 30% shortfall of radiologists threatens to rise to 40% by 2028, says Royal College of Radiologists chief Dr Katherine Halliday.

There are 1,962 fewer consultant radiologists and 185 fewer clinical oncologists than needed.

This is the "main factor" behind the failure to meet cancer waiting time targets and delays to reporting scan results, the RCR warns.

The NHS aims for every scan to be reported within a month, but data shows 420,000 took longer in the first half of 2024 alone.