Recurring concern
Unreliable radiology processes for communicating findings and initiating required follow-up
- Reports that mention this concern
- 16
- Times this concern has been raised
- 16
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 23
What this concern includes
Includes failures in radiology processes for communicating clinically important findings or recommendations, confirming receipt by the responsible clinical team, enabling or initiating recommended additional investigations, and providing required radiologist reporting arrangements when these failures can delay diagnosis or follow-up care.
What is not included
- Excludes failures limited to interpretation of images where communication or follow-up is not deficient.
- Excludes generic referral, appointment or investigation delays without a direct radiology finding, recommendation or reporting-process connection.
- Excludes failures in the clinical management of a condition after the radiology finding and required follow-up have been reliably communicated and initiated.
- Excludes generic information-system, staffing or commissioning deficiencies unless they directly impair the radiology communication or follow-up process.
- Excludes the separate abdominal-aortic-aneurysm concern when the assertion is specifically about detection and management of that named condition rather than the radiology follow-up process itself.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 16 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Delays in official radiologist reporting of chest X-rays showing cardiomegaly
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Complete and formalise the radiology policy review to document how clinical teams can expedite imaging reports for clinical concerns.
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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Share the updated radiology escalation guidance with paediatric teams and publish it on the Trust intranet.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Formal chest X-ray reporting delays lie outside the respondent’s control.
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Concerns raised1
Unavailability of reporting radiologists for discussion of radiological findings
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Circulate and share a flow chart setting out escalation contacts for difficult out-of-hours radiologist communication.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in specialist reporting of X rays
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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NHS England
Expand Clinical Radiology specialty training places to increase the trained reporting workforce.
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NHS England
Continue international recruitment of radiologists to support diagnostic capacity, with demand planning underway for further recruitment.
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NHS England
Deliver the Long Term Workforce Plan, including expanded domestic education, training and recruitment and workforce retention measures.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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NHS England
NHS Trusts are responsible for ensuring safe staffing levels in hospitals’ current day-to-day operations.
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NHS England
Local A&E procedures require follow-up of X-ray reports because general X-rays may not receive 24/7 imaging-service reporting.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to highlight significant, unexpected, and important radiological findings to the referring clinician
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Medica
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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Medica
Update the Medica Alerts policy to require urgent notification of referrers for potential new TB diagnoses and advise that treatment changes may be needed.
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Medica
Circulate the updated Medica Alerts policy to all reporters.
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Medica
Work with clients to enact the 2022 Academy of Royal Colleges and RCR Alerts guidelines within local processes.
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Medica
Raise Urgent Findings for relevant cases until clients adjust their internal alert processes.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to follow up on radiological signs of possible bowel injury
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Redefine the Major Trauma Service so the Major Trauma Consultant leads whole-patient review and liaises with specialty teams.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to report CTA findings urgently to requesting doctors
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to make report receipt by the appropriate clinician apparent to the reporting radiologist
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Limited remote access to relevant systems for urgent out-of-hours imaging reporting
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Royal College of Radiologists
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
Royal College of Radiologists
Revisit radiology informatics guidance to verify that imaging equipment specifications are clear and unambiguous.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Royal College of Radiologists
Technology access issues are being addressed locally by Tameside General Hospital.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of out-of-hours radiologist reporting arrangements for x-rays
Linked response
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Provide the surgical department with a designated laptop for the on-call Consultant to securely review imaging remotely and provide advice or attend when necessary.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Existing clinician training and access to on-call consultant radiologists were considered sufficient to identify and manage abnormal out-of-hours x-rays.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to act on reported x-ray findings
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Include the Emergency Department Injured Elderly NWB Guideline in junior doctor induction and stress discussion of referrals at trauma x-ray meetings.
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South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Review and relaunch the injured elderly non-weight-bearing pathway across the Trust to raise clinicians’ awareness.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
The radiograph and report were viewed by three medical staff and were therefore not reported and ignored.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026