Figures released by NHS England for July 2025 suggest there has been a slight decrease in the proportion of patients waiting too long for scans.
One in five (21.9 per cent) of patients still must wait more than six weeks for diagnostic imaging tests, a reduction of 0.5 percentage points.
However, the SoR was warned that the government figures do not necessarily reflect the full reality of the situation.
'More tests than ever'
Government targets state that 99 per cent of patients should be given scans within six weeks, or else face increased risk of complications or death.
In fact, the actual number of patients waiting more than six weeks has gone up by 15,000.
Dean Rogers, executive director of industrial strategy and member relations, said: “Demand is rising at a rate that outstrips the NHS’s current capacity. This means that radiographers are carrying out more tests than ever – and yet waiting lists are still going up.”
More than two million imaging tests were carried out in July 2024, but by the end of that month, almost 1.5 million patients were still waiting. At the end of July 2025, 1,730,900 patients were left waiting for a key diagnostic test.
'Work at unsustainable levels'
Dean continued: “Radiographers are vital to any plan to reduce NHS waiting lists. But the radiography workforce has grown by roughly half of what’s needed to keep up with rising demand. The average vacancy rate is now 15 per cent.
“Our members are being asked to work at unsustainable levels – they are sacrificing their own health for the sake of their patients’. This is the cost of any improvement in the NHS right now – and it is unsustainable.”
Recent recruitment freezes across NHS trusts have only exacerbated this shortage, as departing members of staff are not replaced. In addition, the government is now saying that it is going to cut back on international recruits – “Without whom the NHS will be overwhelmed,” Dean added.
“We cannot improve the NHS without first ensuring that it is sufficiently staffed. The government needs a realistic long-term workforce plan – and to ensure that there is funding to match it in the Budget.”
(Image: Photo by SolStock, via Getty Images)