In 2003, the numbers of UK consultant radiologists were estimated to be 1940. These figures represent between a half and a quarter of the numbers in the US and Western Europe, based on a per capita comparison. This indicates a very significant shortfall of trained radiologists and is evidenced by the existence of long waiting times for imaging examinations. A significant need exists for a rapid increase in the number of consultant radiologists.

The existing radiology training infrastructure in the UK could not support a large and swift increase in the number of trainees. This situation required a new initiative to develop a modern approach to training radiologists, which could provide increased numbers of radiologists without putting additional strain on the existing training infrastructure.

To address this need the Department of Health established three Radiology Academies to increase the number of radiologists being trained and to provide a structured five-year training programme delivered through a combination of e-learning, skills lab work, direct teaching, and clinical experience. This combination is known as the Radiology Integrated Training Initiative (RITI).

The Radiology Integrated Training Initiative is a national project which aims to deliver a new approach for training consultant radiologists. By finding new, more efficient training methods it is anticipated that there will be a more rapid increase in numbers of high quality trained radiologists.

Integrated training is the delivery of training using a number of different mechanisms to achieve learning objectives. These include e-learning, self-assessment using an archive of validated images, formal assessments, skills labs, tutorials/lectures and clinical placements.

The Successful Launch of the Academy

The Radiology Academy is a specially designed education facility, which provides a rich learning environment intimately linked to the clinical practice of radiology . It is closely linked to the clinical departments of the local training scheme with image and voice links to Derriford hospital to permit remote access to clinical procedures and reporting areas to enable skills acquisition in these important radiological processes

The Academy is linked on an intranet and provides access to extensive electronic learning resources. The building also houses equipment specific to radiology training such as diagnostic workstations, skills labs and interventional simulator devices. 

The Peninsula Radiology Academy opened to its first cohort of 18 radiology trainees on October 3rd 2005. The Academy was formally opened, on 8th December 2005, by Professor Janet Husband, President of the Royal College of Radiologists. This event was a great success and received local and national media coverage.