The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has welcomed a review of productivity and AI announced in Chancellor John Healey’s Autumn Budget on 28 October, while cautioning that the technology cannot close staffing shortfalls in radiology and oncology.
The review aims to help doctors spend less time on administrative tasks and more time caring for patients. AI tools can help radiologists and clinical oncologists work more efficiently and accurately, and in the short term they could boost productivity most by relieving doctors’ administrative burden, said RCR President Stephen Harden, MBBS.
However, the U.K. needs 2,300 more radiologists and 230 more clinical oncologists to meet current demand for diagnostics and cancer care, and “AI cannot fill that gap,” Harden said. The college has offered to advise the government as it conducts the review.
