Recurring concern
Unreliable timeliness of radiology imaging and reporting
- Reports that mention this concern
- 29
- Times this concern has been raised
- 31
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 44
What this concern includes
Includes failures in radiology processes that delay or prevent clinically required imaging, reporting or access to radiology services, including unrealistic or unmet reporting-time expectations, delayed scan performance or reporting, burdensome request routes and inadequate out-of-hours arrangements.
What is not included
- Excludes failures limited to interpretation of images where imaging and reporting were timely and available.
- Excludes non-radiology investigations and generic diagnostic delays without a specific radiology connection.
- Excludes condition-specific imaging pathways where a more specific named concern provides the supported boundary.
- Excludes generic staffing, communication or IT deficiencies unless they directly impair timely radiology imaging, reporting or access.
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 29 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
Delays in undertaking staging scans
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Monitor individual cancer patients through weekly or fortnightly specialty review meetings.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Track cancer patients across the pathway, including referrals to regional specialist services.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Escalate unbooked staging scans after five days through direct contact with referring radiology or tracking teams.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Continue advertising and re-advertising to recruit specialist head and neck radiology staff.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Provide 12-month locum radiology cover for the head and neck service from October 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Diagnostic testing and staging for patients from other Health Boards are delivered by their home Health Board, not Swansea Bay University Health Board.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
Swansea Bay University Health Board does not directly manage diagnostic and staging pathway elements occurring outside its area.
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Swansea Bay University Local Health Board
National shortages and recruitment difficulties constrain the Health Board’s ability to provide robust specialist head and neck radiology services.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in making CT scan results available
This report raised 12 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Mid and South Essex 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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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Use one comprehensive patient-tracking system across hospital sites to monitor cancer pathways, diagnostic reporting, timescales and required escalations.
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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Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Weekly specialist MDT meetings and centralised tracking are considered sufficient to prevent delays in scan review and treatment planning.
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Concerns raised1
Burdensome and time-consuming out-of-hours CT scan requesting system
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Royal Berkshire 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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Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Improve the time from Emergency Department CT request to reported result through a quality improvement project.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in reporting radiological chest x-rays
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Barts Health 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.2
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Barts Health NHS Trust
Increase Emergency Department imaging-reporting radiologists and radiographers to near-full capacity.
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Barts Health NHS Trust
Recruit further imaging reporters to reduce reporting turnaround times.
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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Barts Health NHS Trust
The chest radiograph was reported within the department’s ten-working-day timeframe, despite being completed outside normal working hours.
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Concerns raised1
Shortage of radiographers and radiologists causing delays in scan performance and reporting
This report raised 1 other concern. 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.1
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NHS England
Implement the Long Term Workforce Plan to improve training, staff retention, workforce reform and sustainable staffing.
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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NHS England
NHS Trusts are responsible for ensuring appropriate staffing, senior clinical support and diagnostic provision for anticipated demand.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in carrying out and reporting CT scans due to insufficient suitably qualified radiology staff
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Department of Health and Social Care
- NHS England
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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Department of Health and Social Care
NHSE and local integrated care bodies are responsible for addressing the concerns about treatment at Wythenshawe Hospital.
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NHS England
Greater Manchester Integrated Care provides the relevant services, while its Integrated Care Board decides commissioned health services.
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Concerns raised1
Expectation for reporting all scans within an hour
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Gloucestershire Hospitals 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.3
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Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Train radiographers to vet scans under predefined radiologist protocols.
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Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Produce frequently asked questions for radiography staff to reduce interruptions to radiology sessions.
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Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Investigate an artificial intelligence tool to improve triage between urgent and less urgent scans.
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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Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Not all scans require reporting within one hour; national standards set different timescales according to clinical urgency.
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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
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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
Failure to perform indicated CT head scans
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.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026