Professor Risteárd Ó Laoide:

As a radiologist, I am familiar with this terrain. The radiology deficit is even more widespread than the breast screening service. In fact, it is a major issue throughout the health services. I liken it to electricity in a system; if there is not the diagnostic capacity throughout a system, there is going to be a significant problem. The chief clinical officers in the HSE have just commenced a time-limited study to look at demand capacity in this area. The deficit has a far-reaching effect for all our health services. We work with the national doctors training and planning unit within the HSE and with faculty radiologists to try to forecast the number of radiologists we need in the future. There are currently 125 trainees within the programme, with 25 coming off it each year. The amount of outpatient imaging being done is increasing and will continue to increase. Subspecialisation is also increasing, which reduces the output of radiologists because the work has got significantly more complicated and complex. We are looking at things like skills mix and changing radiographic and nursing roles etc. within the service.

While we do not know what it will do, the other issue on the horizon is artificial intelligence, which is obviously something we have to keep an eye on. I agree with Professor Flanagan, and want to stress, that this is a fundamental issue that we will have to look at in the health service.