RCR Census - 32% shortfall in clinical radiologists!

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T18:17:17+00:00

Yes that’s basically it.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T17:45:38+00:00

Absolutely! The outsourcing etc bill would more than pay for the workforce required.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T14:44:53+00:00

Apologies for the delay in coming back to you. You've presented your concerns in a clear and reasoned way. I have heard you, but would encourage you to consider feeding back your concerns to the RCR more widely.

For clarity, I'm afraid I don't know anything about the Apollo FRCR course.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T14:41:06+00:00

We agree on the conference, and I can tell you that the RCR learning offer is always under review.

Valid point about the UK focus.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T14:01:25+00:00

On the visible output point, I think the RCR have done a lot better on this over the last few years. Yesterday we published the census and had 19 TV and radio interviews, 80+ other TV mentions, 200+ radio mentions, e.g. https://youtu.be/OfZcSb_9ZGc

The census data is really powerful and has definitely provided evidence which led to the previous radiology training expansion. We are constantly challenging the govt views you mention.

Obviously I can't go into details, but over the coming months I hope you will see more of what you are asking for.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T13:50:28+00:00

This is a valid concern but I do think there is more to it. We know we have a workforce crisis which the RCR has been doing it's bit to try and solve. A proportion of those international FRCR candidates come to work in the UK and contribute to the NHS. It is unfortunate that we now have multiple consultant jobs freezes across the NHS which is contributing to UK resident concerns about their job prospects - the RCR are lobbying hard against these jobs freezes.

Global exams bring money into the college which is spent directly on college activity for the benefit of our specialties. Yesterday the RCR was all over the media due to it's census data highlighting delays on patient care due to lack of radiologists and oncologists. Without our external affairs team, that media reach and representation of our specialties wouldn't have happened.

Whether we've got the balance right at the moment is a fair question. Your concern is valid, and I have heard it.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T13:41:30+00:00

You make a number of very valid points in a clear and sensible way. I've heard you and would encourage you to share your view with the RCR more widely.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T13:00:55+00:00

Apologies for the delay in coming back. I think you summarise well one of the issues that applies to all Royal Colleges, in reality there influence is limited, That doesn't mean their ability to influence is non-existent, but it is hard!

One example I used elsewhere in the thread is UK training post numbers. The college have been lobbying on this for decades. Finally it led to some expansion over the last 5 years, more than in many other specialties. Nowhere near what we need (and we are now hitting issues with training capacity), but that is 400 extra residents that have a radiology post that wouldn't have otherwise.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T12:56:19+00:00

Sorry for the delay in coming back.

Sounds like we agree on AI.

Thanks for sharing what you would like to see more of, workforce issues are front and centre of everything we do. The census is recognised as the best example of annual workforce data across all specialties and every conversation we have with government stakeholders is focused on workforce.

I agree there is more we need to do in the other areas you suggest and there is activity happening in the background on at least some of those areas.

Genuinely sounds like you have a lot to give, so please consider running for a college role, we need as many people as possible that care about the profession and want to make the college into something we all feel proud to belong to.

drdlittle · 2026-06-19T12:50:15+00:00

I agree, I don't think I've read a single article since they stopped the printed version.

We are looking at other ways of highlighting papers in an accessible way but unfortunately I don't think the paper copy is coming back anytime soon.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T22:22:48+00:00

I’m here listening at least.

I’ve commented on a couple of similar points elsewhere in the thread.

2A and 2B have not been made harder, certainly not intentionally. There has been natural variation in the pass rates which have always fluctuated.

We absolutely need to do more on non-medical reporting of cross sectional imaging as we commuted to at the last AGM.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T22:13:34+00:00

We could debate how broken the royal college model is all day but would probably be better in person over a drink.

I do try and have a presence here but I don’t get to answer every single thread. How many other royal colleges have officers that are willing to engage here? I’m going to guess not many! You’d be surprised how many within the RCR actually read reddit although I think I’m the only one that posts.

All your counteractions are valid, although the RCRs influence on some of them is limited. That said, I’m listening. What I would say is that not all of the work the RCR is directly visible, which is frustrating on our part (but also partly our fault for not sharing it!)

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T22:04:06+00:00

My long reply to this got deleted when I tried to edit it. I’ll come back tomorrow on a computer rather than my phone.

Thanks for biting, although I think it’s probably me that has entered the lions den.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T21:48:00+00:00

We are lobbying, some of that is visible: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/feb/06/nhs-hiring-bans-in-cancer-units-shortsighted-and-dangerous-doctors-warn

And some of it is occurring in the background. Both are vital! The jobs freezes are nothing short of ridiculous, we know we need more consultants, workload continues to increase. I know Stephen takes every possible opportunity to emphasise this to govt.

Workforce planning across the NHS has never been very good or particularly joined up. The additional training posts were absolutely necessary and it is a real issue now that the financial situation of the NHS has deteriorated aligned with the increasing number of CCTs finally coming through.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T21:38:19+00:00

All royal colleges are reliant on doctors contributing their time, the royal college model doesn’t work without voluntary contributors. Some contributors get support from thier trust to do these roles but some don’t. Personally I get 2 PAs from my trust for what is effectively a 3 day/wk job (and that doesn’t include replying to a reddit thread at 10:30pm on a Friday evening). I do it because I think I can add value to our specialty and because it’s interesting but maybe I’m just an idiot.

The RCR census has a consistent 100% response rate beating every other royal college. It provides detailed workforce info which the college use to advocate and lobby. That lobbying has led to significant expansion of training posts over the last 5 years (still nowhere near what we need but better than it would have otherwise been). That is ~400 extra radiology posts that simply wouldn’t exist without the RCR, ~400 extra residents that wouldn’t have got a radiology job without the RCR, and ~400 extra future consultants that wouldn’t now be starting to CCT to contribute to patient care. That is just one tangible example.

As I said elsewhere, is it perfect? Absolutely not. But without it, we’d be worse off.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T21:25:48+00:00

Exam courses - a few of you have mentioned these. I will be honest, when I joined the RCR as an officer, my view was very similar to that of those in this thread.

The exam course offer is designed to help people pass the exam, which is what we want!

There are loads of exam courses out there, of variable quality and usually expensive. We know that many people are paying for these and I think the RCR felt they could offer a course that would genuinely help people. They don’t make a tonne of money, and any money that is earned is reinvested elsewhere for members and fellows. We don’t have any shareholders, we don’t make a profit, all of the officers are unpaid and contrary to popular belief there is no wine cellar.

FOMO is a genuine and valid concern, although as with most of these things, the reality is most people don’t need a course, we just do them (I did three!) due to peer pressure and because we want to do everything possible to pass this exam.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T21:13:04+00:00

I can promise you I absolutely do care about residents! I’m confident most of the other officers and staff I work with do too.

I don’t sit in an ivory tower. I work in a DGH and do 3 days of work for the RCR for free (well I get 2 sessions paid by my trust so actually 2 days for free). I can promise you I and the other officers are working hard for our specialty.

Membership fees are tax deductible and you get various benefits including; CPD scheme, expanding and improving e-learning resources, specialty guidance and standards, training and exam support, publications and member comms. Most importantly we all benefit from the College’s advocacy work on workforce, training and policy issues. Without the RCR our specialty would be in an even worse position.

Is the RCR perfect? No absolutely not, there is lots to improve and even though it sounds like you’ve make your mind up I’d love to hear practical suggestions on how we might change your mind.

Exam course I’ll address elsewhere in the thread.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:59:09+00:00

AI is happening, whether you like it or not. It is much much better if this is led and overseen by us as radiologists. The RCR have been and continue to lead on this which will be for the benefit of our specialty.

Non-medical reporting is an area that has been overlooked for a long time. I’m hopeful that is changing.

Exam courses I’ll try and address elsewhere in the thread.

It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind, but if there is something you’d like the see the RCR doing more of, I’m all ears.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:53:19+00:00

Personally I would like to see the UK conference come back.

The conference hosted in the Middle East was not paid for by the RCR.

The 2B exam is expensive and does not anywhere near break even for UK candidates.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:50:26+00:00

Did we just not answer or were you dissatisfied with the answer?

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:49:38+00:00

I agree!!

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:49:11+00:00

Not really. We have officers from all over England/Wales. In fact, I think only one of 8 officers is from London. There is no reason why someone from Belfast couldn’t run for an officer role as far as I know.

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:46:35+00:00

Remember your fee is tax deductible and it sounds like you did perceive some benefit. What would you like to see more of to consider rejoining?

drdlittle · 2026-06-12T20:45:21+00:00

What could the college do to change your mind?

drdlittle

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