| The capacity of NHS imaging services to support modern patient care has fallen far behind what is required. After visiting nearly all radiology departments in England, the Getting It Right First Time radiology programme identified the following as the cornerstones of a transformed service. |
Investment in the workforce. In addition to the necessary expansion, better opportunities must be provided for staff to develop new skills and progress to more advanced roles. The establishment of imaging networks to improve equity of access, leverage productivity gains through joint procurement of equipment and services, and harmonise working practices. Separation of acute and elective imaging within an integrated service across a network, allowing a sustainable staffing model that makes the best use of skilled staff in varied clinical environments. This will include the establishment of community diagnostic centres. Full integration with local services is required to avoid duplication and prevent delays in availability of images and reports. A new focus on patient needs, making services accessible, timely and integrated with other aspects of clinical care, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits. Modernisation of equipment and facilities: modern scanning equipment is more efficient and results in lower radiation doses in the case of computed tomography. Facilitation of image sharing by replacement of outdated picture archiving communications systems (PACS) making images and reports immediately available to clinicians who need them for patient management, wherever they are. Improved coding and standardised collection of data to allow true benchmarking of services and drive improvement. Managing increasing demand. Year-on-year increases in demand are a fact of life for imaging services and apply particularly to the most complex studies. The introduction of computerised decision support at the point of requesting can help to ensure that additional demand is appropriate and that patients get the right test first. Artificial intelligence can also play a part in this. Standardising job plans including, for example, agreement of what is expected from reporters in terms of productivity in a given time period and adoption of national guidance on streamlining multidisciplinary team meetings. Design and implementation of agreed national pathways and protocols for the imaging of patients with selected common conditions including patients with suspected cancer.
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