Radiographer staffing solutions for NHS trusts

Atlas Diagnostics provides expert diagnostic radiographers who integrate seamlessly into NHS imaging departments, supporting scanning capacity and maintaining safe, efficient patient pathways.

Our radiographers are fully HCPC-registered professionals who work as an extension of your in-house teams across general hospitals and Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) and are trained across all system types including Philips, Siemens, Canon etc.

radiographers

0 +

coverage across UK

Nationwide

patients per annum

radiographers

0 +

patients per annum

coverage across UK

Nationwide

*Figures taken over an annual period

Overview of service

Atlas supplies diagnostic radiographers experienced across all major imaging modalities:

CT radiographers

Supporting high-volume CT services, urgent care pathways, and elective imaging lists.

MRI radiographers

Experienced in routine and complex MRI examinations across diverse patient cohorts.

Plain film radiographers

Supporting emergency, inpatient and outpatient imaging throughput.

DEXA radiographers

Specialist bone density scanning services supporting osteoporosis pathways.

Radiographers are available for on-site placements in:

Hospitals
Community Diagnostic Centres
Elective recovery programmes
Insourced imaging services

Case Study

Improving CT & MRI capacity and patient outcomes through bespoke staffing solutions

The Challenge

A large NHS trust in the North of the UK approached Atlas at a time of increasing operational pressure across its diagnostic imaging services. Rising patient demand for MRI and cross-sectional imaging, combined with a national shortage of specialist diagnostic radiographers, had created significant workforce gaps across both the Trust’s in-house MRI departments and its mobile MRI services.

The Solution

Atlas has implemented a fully bespoke workforce solution designed around the Trust’s operational requirements and evolving service demands operating. We supply highly skilled specialist diagnostic radiographers with extensive experience across MRI and cross-sectional imaging environments, ensuring immediate support across both static and mobile imaging units, operating 7-days a week across multiple sites.

Our service model is supported by experienced Atlas clinical leaders and operational managers, who worked closely with Trust service managers to maintain clear communication, effective workforce planning, and consistent service delivery. Regular engagement meetings enable both teams to proactively identify operational pressures, address service challenges, and continuously optimise imaging capacity.

Key elements of the solution include:

Bespoke workforce planning tailored to the Trust’s imaging requirements, operating 7-days a week.
Flexible rota management and rapid response cover for short notice staffing gaps.
Deployment of highly experienced MRI and cross-sectional radiographers.
Ongoing support from dedicated Atlas clinical leads and managers.
Collaborative operational reviews to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
Strong clinical governance and communication processes to maintain high standards of patient care.

The Impact

Through the partnership with Atlas, the Trust was able to optimise scanning capacity across its imaging services and improve the efficiency of daily diagnostic operations, seeing over 20,000 patients per annum. Scanner utilisation increased, enabling a greater number of patients to be imaged each day, while maintaining an excellent standard of patient care and experience.

The flexibility and responsiveness of the Atlas team ensured minimal disruption to service delivery, even during periods of increased demand or unexpected staffing pressures. Our radiographers integrated effectively within existing clinical teams, contributing not only operational support but also valuable clinical insight and service feedback.

As a result, the Trust benefited from:

Improved MRI and diagnostic imaging capacity.
Increased efficiency and optimisation of scanning lists – serving over 20,000 patients per annum.
Reduced operational pressures on permanent teams.
Greater flexibility in responding to changing service demands.
High standards of patient care and patient experience.
Strong collaborative working relationships between Atlas and Trust leadership teams.

The Challenge

The Solution

Key elements of the solution include:

Bespoke workforce planning tailored to the Trust’s imaging requirements, operating 7-days a week.
Flexible rota management and rapid response cover for short notice staffing gaps.
Deployment of highly experienced MRI and cross-sectional radiographers.
Ongoing support from dedicated Atlas clinical leads and managers.
Collaborative operational reviews to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
Strong clinical governance and communication processes to maintain high standards of patient care.

The Impact

As a result, the Trust benefited from:

Improved MRI and diagnostic imaging capacity.
Increased efficiency and optimisation of scanning lists – serving over 20,000 patients per annum.
Reduced operational pressures on permanent teams.
Greater flexibility in responding to changing service demands.
High standards of patient care and patient experience.
Strong collaborative working relationships between Atlas and Trust leadership teams.

The Challenge:

Like many NHS trusts, the ultrasound department was facing a growing challenge: increasing demand for ultrasound scans, workforce shortages, and long waiting lists that risked compromising patient experience. Traditional locum agencies offered limited solutions, they could provide bodies, but not the continuity, flexibility, or planning support needed to truly transform service delivery.

“Atlas has demonstrated the ability to respond quickly and flexibly to our needs, providing additional shifts when last-minute funding became available, allowing us to increase activity at short notice without compromising on quality.” – Ultrasound Service Manager

The Atlas Solution:

From the outset, Atlas approached the partnership differently. Instead of transactional placements, they offered access to a dedicated pool of sonographers who could integrate into the Trust’s service week after week.

Proactive Workforce Planning – Atlas delivers rotas a month in advance, giving the Trust the ability to plan clinics, staffing, and funding allocations with confidence.
Scalable Support – When last-minute funding became available, Atlas was able to supply extra shifts at short notice, enabling the Trust to boost activity immediately without sacrificing quality.
Specialist Focus – Unlike generic agencies, Atlas’ dedicated sonographer workforce provides continuity, familiarity, and higher efficiency in both obstetric and non-obstetric scans.

Clinical governance & compliance

Clinical confidence

All Atlas diagnostic radiographers are:

UK-based and fully HCPC registered
Experienced in NHS diagnostic pathways
Fully indemnified and compliance-checked
Deployed under CQC-registered clinical governance frameworks

Ensuring safe, compliant service delivery aligned to NHS standards.

Market leading audit

We monitor and audit Atlas team members across all modalities, each month, taking that pressure off you and ensuring the highest standards of service delivery.

Radiology Events and Learning Meetings (REALM)

Atlas facilitates weekly discrepancy review forums that promote open clinical discussion and shared learning.

Insights are distributed through:

Monthly newsletters
Quarterly education events
Shared best-practice and learning across partner organisations

Why choose Atlas?

Clinically led by experienced consultant radiologists

UK’s largest dedicated secondary care ultrasound provider

Specialist sonographer workforce (not generalist locums)

Reliable high-volume scanning capacity

Robust clinical governance and audit systems

Trusted NHS partner since 2011

Need support with radiology capacity?

Speak directly with our clinical team to discuss ultrasound services, reporting support, or backlog reduction for your trust.