The number of scans used to diagnose cancer dropped by more than a quarter as the coronavirus pandemic hit hospital services at Dorset County Hospital. A pause on non-urgent treatment, a shortage of radiographers and a reduction in people coming forward for tests are said to have affected scans across England. Teams at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust performed more than 8,000 fewer imaging scans between March last year and February in comparison to the same period in 2019-20, NHS figures show. Imaging tests that can be used to diagnose or detect cancer were carried out 24,215 times during that time - a 26% drop.