The Society of Radiographers was featured in national news media over the weekend, appearing in an article warning that the government must act to prevent delays to fracture services.
Published in The Mail on Sunday and on DailyMail.co.uk, the article outlines the SoR’s view that the government is not doing enough to deliver on its pledge to implement universal fracture liaison services by 2030.
The pre-election pledge resulted from a campaign by The Mail on Sunday and the Royal Osteoporosis Society. Currently, a further 59 fracture liaison services are needed to meet the target of 100 per cent coverage in England by 2030.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday on 22 February, SoR president Katie Thompson said Society members had become concerned about delays to the roll-out of more services, particularly regarding staffing.
‘These clinics can’t be set up overnight’
“Our members have become increasingly worried about the delay to the promised rollout,” said Ms Thompson. “Calculations show that unless the roll-out starts by this summer, ministers will find it impossible to meet their 2030 deadline.
“These clinics can’t be set up overnight. They require time and planning to launch so they can become fully staffed, including the radiography workforce.”
She added that SoR radiographers had seen the effects of these delays first-hand and implored the government to publish its plan for rolling out these services.
Staffing woes
Worries about staffing are an ongoing concern for the SoR beyond fracture liaison services. Earlier this month, the SoR CEO Richard Evansspoke up about the lack of support for staff in the government’s National Cancer Plan.
”We are pleased that the government is taking cancer – and cancer treatment targets – seriously and is looking to improve on the existing service,” he began.
“Where the cancer plan falls short, however, is in its lack of workforce planning. The plan barely mentions radiographers, despite our key role in diagnosing cancer and planning and delivering radiotherapy.”
In August 2025, the SoR approved of the news that 100 community diagnostic centres had opened in the evenings and weekends across England, providing thousands more scans. But Charlotte Beardmore, the SoR’s executive director for professional policy, said that as demand for imaging increased, “it is essential that capacity to deliver more imaging is increased”.
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