Workforce health must not be forgotten in the effort to deliver an effective radiology service

Heavy workloads, staff shortages and increasing complexity have made radiology one of the most demanding fields in medicine, according to medical technology company Rosenfield Health. “With Men’s Health Awareness Month in November, now is a good time to recognise that mental health in medicine, particularly among radiologists, deserves more attention. Many radiologists are working longer hours under immense pressure, often in silence,” it says.

According to The Royal College of Radiologists’ 2024 workforce census, there will be 3,900 fewer radiologists and oncologists than necessary by 2029. Nine in 10 UK cancer centre leads report delays to scans and treatments due to staff shortages. The impact is not only operational but psychological, says Rosenfield. A Building Better Healthcare survey found that 53 per cent of radiologists cite burnout as their top concern, followed by workforce shortages at 49 per cent. For many male clinicians, talking about stress or burnout can be difficult and creating a culture that normalises these discussions is essential for long-term wellbeing, the company says.

Administrative work continues to be a burden and tasks such as anonymising studies, formatting reports and routing data can take time that could be spent on patient care. Automation and smart integration can help reclaim this time. For example, anonymisation tools like BriX can automatically remove identifiers from DICOM files and pixel data, allowing studies to be used for research or teaching without manual effort. Automated notifications and structured templates also make communication and reporting faster and more consistent.

“At Rosenfield Health, our work with NHS trusts and imaging networks has shown that even small workflow improvements, from better study anonymisation to more structured meeting systems, can make a noticeable difference in efficiency and morale,” the company adds.

Read this report on page 6 of the November 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.