PenRAD Imaging Network newsletter
April 2026
Welcome
Welcome to the Easter edition of the PenRAD newsletter.
We are now halfway through our fifth year as a network, and unlike several others around the country, we are fortunate to have secured ongoing funding for 2026/27.
Alongside our wider programme of work - some of which is highlighted below - a significant part of our current focus is maintaining and strengthening our digital infrastructure. The growing divergence of EPR suppliers across the peninsula has, as expected, created challenges for our shared RIS systems, which have been central to the collaboration achieved across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We continue to monitor demand and activity closely, and as many of you will recognise, there is no sign of reduced reliance on imaging within healthcare, particularly for CT, MRI, and ultrasound.
The recently published national cancer plan will place further pressure on imaging departments, with an emphasis on faster, earlier, and more accurate diagnosis. Although robotics and AI are expected to improve productivity in the long term, their impact is not yet being felt in day‑to‑day practice, meaning workforce growth remains essential.
Thank you for your continued support for PenRAD. Please do get in touch if there are areas where you feel the network could make a positive contribution, or if you would like to become more involved.
Digital infrastructure review
PenRAD is convening a workshop on Monday 20 April in Plymouth to explore how we can best secure our shared radiology digital infrastructure in the peninsula, as different electronic patient record (EPR) systems become deployed in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
PenRAD has been asked by trusts to carry out an assessment of the potential deployment of EPIC Radiant in Devon, and how to mitigate the risk to integration with Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, as well as the impact on PROC (Peninsula Radiology On-Call) and Shared Insourced Reporting.
This meeting will inform the assessment and the recommendation to trusts. The day will include opportunities to demo relevant software, including, PACS-based reporting, EPIC Radiant, other RIS (Radiology Information System) products, as well as discussions of the risks and benefits of potential solutions.
This meeting is as critical to the future digital integration of our peninsula imaging services as the decisions made 20 years ago to start us on this journey. It is really important that appropriate colleagues from each trust are represented. Invites have gone out already - please email us if you would like to attend.
Strengthening PROC to meet rising demand
Peninsula Radiology On-Call (PROC) is the Radiology Resident led, out‑of‑hours reporting service, providing urgent scan reporting seven days a week between 9pm and 9am.
Since its launch in 2015, PROC has been delivered by a rota of three registrars and has become a critical part of the region’s diagnostic pathway.
Over recent years, demand for out‑of‑hours reporting has continued to rise, while some trusts have also continued to outsource overnight activity. In response, PenRAD and the PROC Oversight Group proposed expanding the PROC rota from three to four registrars.
Following consultation with registrars and trust colleagues, the proposal was implemented in September 2025.
The expanded rota is expected to deliver significant financial and operational benefits. By reducing outsourcing and increasing internal capacity, we estimate further annual savings of around £230k, after accounting for the additional registrar sessions and consultant checking time.
Next steps include developing a call‑management solution that will help free up registrar time for reporting.
Data on demand
The PenRAD BI dashboard provides data on requests, activity, and reporting. Over the next few weeks, PenRAD reports will provide real-time data. New features will start to be added to existing BI reports, including:
- Live CRIS data
- Daily activity view
- Further historic data
- Additional filters for in-hours, out-of-hours/PROC, insourced/outsourced, reporter type, site, room)
- Did not attend (DNA) rates
- Rejected requests
- Waiting and planned
As we begin to develop and implement these new features, we will host drop-in sessions for users to discuss the functionality of the reports.
Existing users will see these changes automatically, and we welcome feedback which can be submitted using the link at the bottom of the PenRAD BI dashboard.
Access to the BI report can be requested here. Users can also access the mobile-friendly version of the report using the Power BI app on Android/iOS.
Case studies showcase the value from network-working
We've published the first in a series of case studies that explore the difference that the PenRAD Imaging Network has been making in the South West peninsula.
Our case studies highlight the successes of our programmes and the value that has been gained for patients and for trusts in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
The case studies so far cover:
- Supporting lung cancer diagnosis with AI
- Shared Insourced Reporting Programme
- Digital imaging infrastructure integration
- Securing the sustainability of radiopharmacy services
- Workforce recruitment and retention
- Sharing imaging data between trusts
Shared Insourced Reporting
The Shared Insourced Reporting Programme (SIRP) continues to grow, with 67 reporters now signed up.
SIRP is managed on behalf of the four trusts in the Devon and Cornwall peninsula by the PenRAD Imaging Network. Its aim is to reduce the use of outsourcing companies, by engaging Radiologists already working in the region to carry out additional work at their trust and allows for cross-site reporting at preferable rates for trusts and radiologists alike. This means that the programme can offer Radiologists favourable rates too.
Discover Diagnostics careers events
The final two career events in this year’s ‘Discover Diagnostics’ series have provided an insight for students into careers in diagnostic imaging and other specialities.
The events are held in collaboration with hospital trusts and are designed to inspire students and young people to consider a diagnostics career in healthcare.
In January, the University of Exeter hosted a careers day at its St Luke's Campus, and in February, PenRAD Imaging Network colleagues joined the Discovery Day at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (pictured above), which was attended by around 260 people.
Productivity and efficiency
Thank you to all our colleagues in CT, MRI and ultrasound for their diligent February data collection to inform the Peninsula Imaging Productivity and Efficiency (PIPE) project. We are now analysing the data and aiming to share results with imaging teams in April.
Non-medical referrers training takes shape
The non-medical referrers (NMR) digital management policy, digital specification and preferred development solution has been approved by the NMR Project Board. The NMR management policy is now with trusts for final approval through individual trust governance processes.
The NMR training pack is being finalised. An accessible, shared training platform is being progressed, with input and advice from the Society & College of Radiographers.
Our work continues to be shared with East Midlands (EMRAD) and West of England imaging networks to ensure that the final NMR digital management solution will be transferable between trusts and networks.
Support workforce study day
Around 60 support workers attended our first CPD study day specifically tailored for this vital staff group. The day was held at South West Imaging Training Academy (SWITA) in Plymouth on 5 March, aimed at Band 2-4 clinical and non-clinical support staff, working in cancer and diagnostics, region-wide.
The day covered topics including how to communicate effectively in challenging situations, help in gaining confidence to raise and resolve concerns, ways to navigate your career pathway with purpose, and support from mentors in clinical practice.
We are grateful to all of the speakers who joined for the day, who included Katie Thompson, President of the Society of Radiographers (SoR), Sue Johnson, Professional Officer (Clinical Imaging) from the Society, Jane Bunce, Workforce Supply Senior Manager at NHS England South West, and Andy Garner, Oncology Lead Educator.
Data update
Activity
| Total demand | Total activity | |
|---|---|---|
 +3% |
+4% |
|
| 12 months to date | 1,764,730 | 1,576,388 |
| Previous 12 months | 1,708,475 | 1,521,897 |
The selected data above is for all four PenRAD trusts in the year to date (end January 2026).
Outpatient and GP data
| Urgency | Feb-Jan 2025 | Feb-Jan 2026 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 84.77% | 84.44% | -0.3% |
| Urgent (6-week target) | 89.17% | 90.06% | +0.9% |
| Routine (6-week target) | 78.45% | 78.19% | -0.3% |
| Urgency | Feb-Jan 2025 | Feb-Jan 2026 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 72.03% | 72.51% | +0.5% |
| Urgent (5-day target) | 84.28% | 81.73% | -2.6% |
| Routine (14-day target) | 97.46% | 95.64% | -1.8% |
