Hundreds of thousands of people in England are experiencing severe delays in accessing diagnostic tests for life-threatening conditions, raising urgent concerns among doctors about avoidable harm to patients. New analysis from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) shows that 386,849 people were waiting more than six weeks for essential tests in September, including scans used to detect cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
The findings highlight the depth of pressure on NHS diagnostic services as hospitals continue struggling to meet rising demand, workforce shortages and ongoing backlogs. The RCR’s report was based on NHS England’s monthly waiting-time figures, which show growing challenges across multiple hospital trusts.
Almost Half of NHS Trusts Missing Key Diagnostic Target
NHS England has instructed trusts to ensure that by 2027 no more than 20% of patients wait six weeks or longer for any diagnostic test, including CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds and heart assessments. However, the RCR’s analysis found that 46% of trusts are already failing to meet current standards.
Official policy requires that fewer than 1% of patients wait beyond six weeks for a diagnostic test, yet that benchmark has not been met since 2015. Dr Stephen Harden, President of the RCR, described the delays as “highly alarming,” warning that thousands of patients are seeing treatment pushed back because their conditions cannot be confirmed promptly.
“Far too many patients are facing long, anxious waits for answers about their health,” Harden said. “Without action, these delays will continue to put patients at risk.”
Risk of Worsening Conditions and Preventable Deaths
The delays affect crucial investigations such as Dexa scans for osteoporosis, echocardiograms for heart disease, colonoscopies for bowel cancer, and other diagnostic procedures. Harden warned that the UK continues to face a chronic shortage of radiologists, which further slows down the reporting and interpretation of scans.
“Any delay to accessing treatment can worsen health outcomes and even lead to preventable deaths,” he added. “Evidence shows a 10% increase in the risk of death for every month that cancer treatment is delayed. Some cancers require multiple tests and scans to diagnose, so slow access to diagnostics can have devastating consequences.”
Billions Spent, But Backlogs Persist
These concerns come despite NHS England’s multi-billion-pound investment in community diagnostic centres and surgical hubs, designed to shorten waiting times. A recent report from the Public Accounts Committee found that delays in accessing tests and treatment have not fallen meaningfully, despite the rollout of new centres across the country.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has also questioned whether the government will meet its pledge to restore the 18-week waiting time for planned hospital care by 2029. The Health Foundation has issued similar warnings, citing workforce shortages and rising demand.
Government: “We Are Turning the Tide”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said the current government “inherited a broken NHS,” but insisted progress is being made. They cited falling waiting lists in recent months and nearly 193,000 more patients receiving timely cancer results compared to last year.
“We know there is more to do,” the spokesperson said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving cancer services through the upcoming national cancer plan.
NHS Under Pressure Across the UK
The latest figures come at a time when the NHS is facing intense pressure from winter demand, strikes by junior doctors earlier in the year and significant staffing shortages in radiology, oncology and cardiology. Diagnostic services have been identified as one of the key bottlenecks preventing faster treatment, with the UK having one of the lowest numbers of scanners per capita among developed countries.
As England continues to face rising rates of cancer referrals and an ageing population, the demand for early detection is expected to increase, further straining diagnostic capacity without additional workforce and equipment investment.
