A NSW hospital’s scan backlog and staffing issues led to safety risks, prompting a downgrade of its radiology training program.

An investigation by the New South Wales Ombudsman found systemic failures at Concord Hospital that posed risks to patient safety, stemming from staffing issues linked to a 2023 backlog of 50,000 medical scans. A cultural review revealed experienced radiologists left due to working conditions and below-average recruitment incentives, despite efforts to hire two full-time radiologists. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists downgraded the hospital’s radiology training program to a D-grade over staff and trainee welfare concerns. While one specific claim could not be substantiated, the hospital reported reducing the backlog to 217 scans older than four weeks. The Sydney Local Health District said it informed affected patients and emphasized that clinicians often rely on imaging before formal reports.