Shaping the UK radiology workforce: two decades of diversity, progression, and training evolution – a national observational study
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Rajendra, Shruti
Shaygi, Behnam
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Aims
The UK continues to face radiology workforce pressures. This study examined how major policy events have shaped diversity and career timelines within the senior UK radiology workforce over nearly two decades.
Methods
All radiologists added to the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register between 2006 and 2023 were identified via a Freedom of Information request. Gender and country of primary medical qualification (PMQ) were analysed, classifying radiologists as UK medical graduates (UKMGs) or international medical graduates (IMGs). The interval between PMQ and specialty registration was a surrogate proxy for overall progression. Temporal trends were assessed using Poisson, binomial logistic, and quantile regression, with interrupted time-series models assessing inflection points at 2012 (MMC), 2016 (Brexit), and 2020 (COVID-19).
Results
Between 2006 and 2023, 4409 radiologists entered the GMC Specialist Register; 39.2% were women and 39.8% were IMGs from 80 countries. Annual registrations rose by +3.85%/year (p < 0.001) without significant change in female (β:+0.0045, p = 0.44) or IMG (β: 0.0045, p = 0.44) representation. Median time from PMQ to registration was 10 years (IQR: 9–13), 1 year longer for females (p < 0.001) and 4 years longer for IMGs (p < 0.001). The gender gap remained stable (interaction β:+0.029/year, p = 0.51), while the UKMG–IMG gap widened (interaction β:+0.224/year, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The senior radiology workforce has expanded and remains internationally diverse, though gender representation has plateaued. Female radiologists and IMG radiologists had longer intervals to registration. Further work is needed to understand these differences, which may be due to differences in career breaks, migration and global changes in training pathways.
The UK continues to face radiology workforce pressures. This study examined how major policy events have shaped diversity and career timelines within the senior UK radiology workforce over nearly two decades.
Methods
All radiologists added to the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register between 2006 and 2023 were identified via a Freedom of Information request. Gender and country of primary medical qualification (PMQ) were analysed, classifying radiologists as UK medical graduates (UKMGs) or international medical graduates (IMGs). The interval between PMQ and specialty registration was a surrogate proxy for overall progression. Temporal trends were assessed using Poisson, binomial logistic, and quantile regression, with interrupted time-series models assessing inflection points at 2012 (MMC), 2016 (Brexit), and 2020 (COVID-19).
Results
Between 2006 and 2023, 4409 radiologists entered the GMC Specialist Register; 39.2% were women and 39.8% were IMGs from 80 countries. Annual registrations rose by +3.85%/year (p < 0.001) without significant change in female (β:+0.0045, p = 0.44) or IMG (β: 0.0045, p = 0.44) representation. Median time from PMQ to registration was 10 years (IQR: 9–13), 1 year longer for females (p < 0.001) and 4 years longer for IMGs (p < 0.001). The gender gap remained stable (interaction β:+0.029/year, p = 0.51), while the UKMG–IMG gap widened (interaction β:+0.224/year, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The senior radiology workforce has expanded and remains internationally diverse, though gender representation has plateaued. Female radiologists and IMG radiologists had longer intervals to registration. Further work is needed to understand these differences, which may be due to differences in career breaks, migration and global changes in training pathways.
Date Issued
2026-02-19
Date Acceptance
2026-02-16
Citation
The Royal College of Radiologists Open, 2026, 4
ISSN
2773-0662
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Journal / Book Title
The Royal College of Radiologists Open
Volume
4
Copyright Statement
© 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal College of Radiologists. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
100471
Date Publish Online
2026-02-19