Hywel Dda University Health Board spent more than £1.7 million on agency radiography staff, according to Welsh Lib Dems.

NHS services across Hywel Dda are facing growing pressure in diagnostic imaging, with rising agency staffing costs and an ageing radiography workforce raising concerns about long-term patient access to scans, according to new research from the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

Radiographers are the professionals who carry out X-rays, CT, MRI and ultrasound scans, tests that are essential for diagnosing cancer, assessing injuries in A&E, confirming strokes and guiding treatment decisions. Without enough radiography staff, patient pathways slow down and waiting times increase.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that Hywel Dda University Health Board spent more than £1.7 million on agency radiographers over the past five years. Agency spending peaked in 2022/23 at nearly £888,000, before remaining significant in subsequent years.

At the same time, workforce data shows that 24.4% of radiographers employed by Hywel Dda are aged over 50, with 11.5% over the age of 55, indicating a substantial proportion of the workforce approaching retirement age.

Workforce experts warn that as experienced radiographers retire, health boards may become increasingly reliant on expensive agency staff unless recruitment, training and retention improve. Training a radiographer takes several years, and losing senior staff can have knock-on effects for patient safety, scan quality and waiting times.

Hywel Dda serves a large rural population, where diagnostic imaging plays a vital role in reducing travel for patients and ensuring timely access to care. Persistent staffing gaps risk widening health inequalities between rural and urban areas.

With diagnostic imaging central to emergency care, cancer pathways and elective recovery, the figures raise serious questions about long-term workforce planning and sustainable staffing in Hywel Dda.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Ceredigion Penfro Sandra Jervis said:“People across West Wales rely on timely access to scans for everything from emergency care to cancer diagnosis, yet this health board has spent more than £1.7 million on agency radiographers in just five years.

“That level of agency spending is a clear warning sign. It suggests the NHS is being forced to rely on short-term fixes instead of building a stable, permanent workforce.

“With nearly a quarter of radiographers in Hywel Dda already over 50, the Welsh Labour Government must act now to improve recruitment and retention, support experienced staff to stay in post for longer, and be honest with the public about workforce pressures. Rural communities cannot afford to be left behind.”