NHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firms
The NHS has reached a record spending of £241 million on outsourcing scan analysis to private firms due to staffing shortages and increasing demand. This reliance on private companies has raised concerns about the quality of reports, with many NHS radiologists needing to double-check outsourced work. Experts warn that continued outsourcing may lead to a permanent dependency on private firms, undermining the training of future NHS staff.
- ▪NHS spending on outsourced scan analysis has doubled in five years, reaching £241 million last year.
- ▪86% of NHS radiology department heads expressed concerns about the quality of reports from private firms.
- ▪The Royal College of Radiologists has called for an increase in training roles to address workforce shortages.
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Most bosses of NHS radiology departments said the outsourced reports needed to be double-checked by NHS specialists. Photograph: NHS England/PAView image in fullscreenMost bosses of NHS radiology departments said the outsourced reports needed to be double-checked by NHS specialists. Photograph: NHS England/PANHSNHS spends record £241m outsourcing scan analysis to private firmsRadiologists say ‘ballooning’ costs reflect staffing failures, forcing a reliance on lower-quality private scan reportsDenis Campbell Health policy editorMon 25 May 2026 03.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThe NHS is paying private firms record sums to analyse diagnostic scans because hospitals are too busy and understaffed to do the work themselves, research has revealed.The amount being spent on outsourced…
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