Radiology academy to be built
A MULTI-MILLION pound academy is set to be built in Wales to train the next generation of medical imaging professionals and reduce the chronic staff shortages in the field.
The new National Imaging Academy for Wales, which is being established with £3.4m of funding from the Welsh Government, will be based in Pencoed, near Bridgend.
It will initially focus on training radiologists but will extend to include radiographers, sonographers and other imaging professionals.
At present there is a worldwide shortage of radiologists despite demand for CT and MRI scans increasing by about 10% year on year in the UK.
According to the Royal College of Radiologists, demand for CT and MRI scans rose by 29% and 26% respectively between 2012 and 2015 but the UK’s consultant radiology workforce grew by only 5%. The shortages are so severe that hospitals in Wales have been known to send scans as far afield as Australia to be analysed.
But Dr Phillip Wardle, consultant radiologist at Cwm Taf University Health Board and clinical lead for the National Imaging Academy for Wales, said the aim of the academy was to double the number of training positions in Wales.
He said: “Radiology is very lucky because it’s right at the forefront of technological health sector.
“With technological progress we’re always able to do something different or new which helps patient care. progress within the
“Therefore keeping pace with our workforce to help deliver that service is difficult.
“The academy will help address the challenges facing imaging and clinical radiology, providing Wales with a high-quality and sustainable radiologist workforce for the future.
“The academy will enable a significant increase in the capacity of radiology training, emulating successful academy models in other parts of the UK.”
The academy will help deliver the Royal College of Radiologists curriculum and will house workstation suites, simulation training and a lecture theatre.
Consultant radiologists based in Welsh hospitals will provide seminars and supervision for trainees on imaging studies, including the interpretation of X-rays, CT and MR scans.
Health secretary Vaughan Gething said: “I’m pleased to approve a £3.4m funding package to establish the new National Imaging Academy for Wales.
“Radiologists and those in the imaging workforce play a crucial role in supporting medical and clinical staff with high-quality imaging investigations and timely reports, which allows doctors to deliver the very best care to patients.
“The new academy will play an important role in allowing us to increase in the number of trained radiologists in the Welsh NHS to ensure a sustainable, high-quality workforce for the future.”