Interventional radiology procedures, facilities, and workforce across England and Wales: a snapshot retrospective evaluation from 2017 to 2021

Abstract

There is no comprehensive data collection outlining the numbers and types of interventional radiology (IR) procedures in the United Kingdom. Similarly, limited data are available on the IR facilities and workforce within the National Health Services (NHS) trusts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the number/type of IR procedures, facilities, and workforces across England and Wales. This retrospective study used the 2000 Freedom of Information Act to obtain information regarding the IR procedures performed in NHS trusts in England and Wales from 2017 to 2021. We collected additional information on IR workforce and facilities, including the number of IR consultants, nurses, trainees, and angiographic suites and day case units; analysed procedures by complexity; and performed data analysis by region. A total of 1,340,352 IR procedures were analysed. An increasing trend was observed in the number of IR procedures from 2017 to 2021 (=0.07, R=0.93). There were more intermediate and complex procedures than simple ones (=0.0001). Notable geographical variation was observed in terms of IR facilities including angiographic suites and day case units, and the number of IR consultants, nurses, and trainees. The IR field continues to grow as evidenced by increasing trends in the number and complexity of the procedures over the years. There is an uneven IR workforce, services, and facilities distribution across England and Wales. Therefore, there is a crucial need for centralised data collection to evaluate and monitor interventions besides comprehensive revision of UK IR service provision.