CONCERNS over the future of breast screening services have been raised by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) as it warns of a future workforce crisis.

The RCR is using International Day of Radiology – which this year focuses on breast imaging - to draw attention to the looming staffing problems facing breast cancer screening and diagnostic services in the UK.

It is calling on the government to invest urgently in more resources to recruit and retain breast radiologists as it reveals a quarter of consultants in breast radiology are expected to retire by 2020 and a third by 2025.

In the North-East, 32 per cent of radiologists will retire in the next five years and 40 per cent in the next ten years.

There is currently an 11 per cent shortfall in radiology staffing in the region and four out of nine breast screening units have more than, or equal to, half of their breast radiologists working less than full time hours.

Breast screening is currently offered to women aged 50 to 70 in England but plans to extend the programme to some women aged 47-73 would mean the number of women potentially covered in the UK would increase from 8million to 10.2 million.

Dr Hilary Dobson, chair of The British Society of Breast Radiology (BSBR) said: “Without more breast radiologists to tackle this increasing demand, we cannot hope to achieve the best possible health outcomes for patients.”

Dr Nicola Strickland, president of the RCR said the UK only has seven radiologists per 100,000 people, the third lowest rate in Europe.

She added: "Urgent investment from the Government and NHS leadership across the UK is needed now."