Swansea Bay Health Board spent more than £1.8 million on agency radiography staff

Swansea Bay University Health Board is facing mounting pressure in diagnostic imaging services, with rising agency staffing costs and an ageing radiography workforce raising concerns about long-term access to scans for patients across the region, 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 sufficient radiography staff, patient pathways slow down and waiting times increase.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that Swansea Bay University Health Board spent more than £1.83 million on agency radiographers over the past five years. Agency spending rose sharply in recent years, increasing from just £7,584 in 2021/22 to nearly £750,000 in 2024/25, highlighting growing reliance on temporary staffing.

At the same time, workforce data shows that 25.35% of radiographers employed by Swansea Bay are aged over 50, with 18.31% aged over 55, one of the highest proportions in Wales.

Despite these pressures, current vacancy rates are reported at 4.19%, suggesting that agency staff may increasingly be used to cover sickness absence, burnout and short-term rota gaps rather than unfilled posts.

Workforce experts warn that as experienced radiographers retire, health boards may become even more dependent on expensive agency staff unless recruitment, training and retention improve. Training a radiographer takes several years, and the loss of senior staff can affect scan capacity, quality and patient safety.

With diagnostic imaging central to emergency care, cancer pathways and elective recovery, the figures raise serious questions about long-term workforce planning and financial sustainability in Swansea Bay.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Candidate for Gŵyr Abertawe (Swansea West & Gower) and local Swansea City Councillor Sam Bennett said:

“Patients across Swansea Bay depend on timely access to scans, whether they are attending A&E, being investigated for cancer, or waiting for planned treatment.

“It is deeply concerning that agency radiography spending in Swansea Bay has risen so sharply at the same time as a large proportion of the workforce approaches retirement age. This points to a system under strain and relying on short-term fixes instead of long-term planning.

“The Welsh Labour Government must work with Swansea Bay Health Board to improve recruitment and retention, support experienced staff to remain in the workforce, and ensure patients are not left facing longer waits for essential diagnostic tests.”