BRONGLAIS Hospital more than trebled its spending on the outsourcing of radiology reporting services in three years, figures obtained by the Cambrian News reveal.

A Freedom of Information request by the Cambrian News shows that Bronglais and other hospitals across Hywel Dda Health Board are increasingly using the services of a private radiology reporting company, Radiology Reporting Online, with images sometimes being interpreted as far away as Australia.

Spending on RRO services by Bronglais Hospital increased from £12,421 in the financial year 2012/13 and £32,092 in 2013/14, to £40,741 in 2014/15, with the Cambrian News understanding that it costs around £500 for a single CT scan report.

Over the same period, the amount of money Hywel Dda paid RRO almost quadrupled from £182,625 in 2012/13 and £409,920 in 2013/14, to £685,286 in 2014/15.

At the same time, Bronglais Hospital has only recruited one radiologist since 2010 and now has only three full and part-time radiologists.

Plaid Cymru’s Welsh Assembly candidate for Ceredigion, Elin Jones, said: “The figures obtained by the Cambrian News on outsourcing radiology services are a cause for concern".

Hywel Dda said it was not true that costs had quadrupled because the first full year was 2013/14, but admitted there were problems with recruitment.

Tony Clarey, Radiology Services Manager at Hywel Dda, said: “There is a national shortage of radiologists that has been recognised by the National Imaging Programme Board, who are now working with Welsh Government to develop a National Academy in Wales to train more radiologists."

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