The NHS Breast Screening Programme has published a national radiographic workforce report summarising the findings of its survey into the current state of the radiographic workforce.
It makes worrying reading as it shows that over half of the workforce are due to retire in the next 10 to 15 years and there is a shortage of new radiographers attracted to the profession.
Radiographers take images of the insides of patients’ bodies to diagnose injury or disease. They are a crucial part of the programme, which routinely offers screening for women aged 50 to 70 every 3 years.
Our survey, carried out in April and May 2016, found that:
- there were 15% vacancies in the mammography workforce
- two thirds of services had vacancies for mammographic staff
- over 60% of advanced practitioners and consultant practitioners were aged 50 or older
The survey examined all 4 tiers of the radiographic workforce – assistant practitioner, practitioner, advanced practitioner and consultant practitioner. It analysed current staffing, vacancy rates, retirements, training routes and attitudes of radiographic staff to workforce issues. We introduced the 4-tier workforce in the early 2000s in response to rising demands on the service. Local screening services have gradually adopted this model.
Our survey found that:
- around 40% of services employed consultant practitioners
- 51 out of 52 services had advanced practitioners
- 49 out of 52 services employed assistant practitioners
- 28% of the total mammographic workforce were assistant practitioners (40% of whom were recruited from outside of healthcare)
Our report echoes findings from the 2015 radiology workforce census which revealed an ageing workforce. It found that one third of radiologists were due to retire over the next 10 years and existing staff were delivering a significant proportion of their clinical workload as extra-contractual activity.
The need for action is urgent because demands on the programme are increasing due to:
- an anticipated 8% increase in women aged 50 to 70 over the next 10 years
- the continuation and expansion of the NHS Breast Screening Programme age extension trial
- pressures arising from symptomatic breast services
PHE is working with the Society and College of Radiographers, Health Education England, NHS England, the breast training centres and universities to plan the response to the workforce challenge.
Partnership working should ensure that breast screening offers an attractive career path for women who want to work in the world’s first (and arguably most prestigious) national breast screening programme.
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2 comments
Comment by Phil Bullock posted on
Interesting survey. I wonder if a similar insight in to the laboratory based cervical screening workforce might help to inform decisions on change in the cervical screening programme?
Comment by Ruth Stubbs posted on
Hi Phil, thank you for your comments. The cervical screening programme is actively undertaking work to inform planning for the future workforce and will report in the next financial year.