To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department will conduct a workforce review into diagnostic and interventional radiology.

My Department is aware that the imaging workforce in Northern Ireland continues to be constrained by insufficient numbers. A costed workforce plan for imaging services, including diagnostic and interventional radiology, has been developed and outlines requirements to bring training within imaging teams up to date of approximately £6m per annum, over the next 3-5 years. Currently this remains unfunded.

However, a business case is being developed for a multi-professional imaging training academy for Northern Ireland which will address radiology and advanced practice radiographer workforce deficit. The Imaging Academy intends to deliver an overall increase in imaging capacity within Health and Social Care for the benefit of all clinical specialties and support the reduction of excess waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, as well as meeting the demands from unscheduled care.

Progress remains subject to business case approval and availability of funding.