PenRAD Imaging Network newsletter
December 2024
Welcome
Welcome to the December edition of the PenRAD newsletter.
With Christmas upon us, PenRAD enters its fourth year of existence. As you will see below, significant progress has been made towards the nationally defined targets for imaging networks. We have moved from a 'developing' to 'maturing' network, which places us in the top half of imaging networks in the country. However, we have significant progress to make before we can be classed as 'thriving'.
Our Shared Insourced Reporting Programme has had a really encouraging start, and has exposed new opportunities for collaborative working. There is significant variation around the peninsula in acquisition protocols, coding examinations within CRIS, and reporting styles. Much of this is clearly appropriate, however there is also good evidence of unwarranted variation and we should all ask ourselves the question, 'If we are doing something differently from our neighbouring trusts, is it because its better or can we learn from each other?'
My sense from talking to all imaging staff is that there is significant enthusiasm for collaboration and convergence, however we are often so overburdened that we do not have the time to make these changes. Hopefully the network can help here too, and we hope to engage as many of you as possible through our modality forums to discuss variation and learn from each other.
Meanwhile, demand continues to rise and we have had to grow the workforce and become more productive just to stand still. So, lots more work to do. As always, the networks will only succeed with the engagement and contribution of all staff members and I hope this will continue over the next year.
Thank you all for your support. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some downtime over the festive period with your friends and family.
Happy Christmas,
Meet the team
John Harrison, Programme Director, PenRAD Imaging Network
I am very pleased to provide my support to the team as Programme Director. We are fortunate to have a fantastic team in PenRAD. A dedicated group of professionals, passionate about making a difference to imaging services, they are embedded in our operational and clinical teams across the patch.
Having worked in the NHS in Devon since 1997, I have experienced the positive impact clinical networks can make. Alongside my role in PenRAD, I also provide support to the Peninsula Acute Provider Collaborative and our Strategy and Partnerships Team in Plymouth.
Prior to this, I worked across most sectors within the NHS: acute, community and adult social care, in both commissioning and provider roles. However, my passion is for clinical networks, working previously with both the Peninsula Cancer and the Peninsula Cardiac Networks, I have seen the huge impact they can have in optimising patient care, reducing inequalities and improving productivity.
There are many examples you will read in our newsletter this month illustrating these opportunities, which we have been able to secure for our patients and NHS locally.
I hope you find the time to take a pause and see what has been achieved, with your support, through the imaging network this year. From myself and the team here in PenRAD, I would like to pass on our best wishes for a restful Christmas and a successful 2025.
A successful start for Shared Insourced Reporting
We were delighted to welcome the first radiologists to our new Shared Insourced Reporting Programme (SIRP).
SIRP aims to reduce the use of outsourcing companies, by using radiologists already working in the region to carry out additional work, that is in common to all trusts and allows for cross-site reporting.
Since the programme started in August 2024, around 45 radiologists from all trusts have signed up, and the feedback we are receiving on the process has been very positive.
Collectively, they are reporting around 800 scans a week that would otherwise have been sent to an outsourcing company. This has worked out approximately £100k cheaper so far.
We hope to extend the programme shortly to reporting radiographers, and following our recent survey of radiologists in the peninsula, are also exploring different payment methods.
The team was recently invited to present at an NHS England national networks engagement event. As only the second network to implement an insourcing programme, after EMRAD in the East Midlands, we were pleased to be able to share our experiences of how we planned and are delivering the programme.
Caroline Dunphy, Shared Insourced Reporting Programme Lead, presenting at the network engagement event in October.
AI technology to help detect CT lung nodules now live
The deployment of an artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help speed up the diagnosis of chest lung nodules across the peninsula is well underway.
The technology, procured from Qure.ai, is being rolled out in trusts across the peninsula thanks to £936,000 funding over the next two years from the government's Artificial Intelligence Development Fund (AIDF).
The procurement process was led on behalf of the region by PenRAD, and the network is also arranging an evaluation by Health Innovation South West. All AIDF projects will provide evaluation data that will be used by NHS England to understand how AI technologies can be successfully deployed in the NHS and their effectiveness in patient pathways.
Qure.ai's qCT solution uses deep-learning technology to provide automated interpretation of radiology exams, supporting clinicians with the detection of potential small abnormalities (nodules). It is able to analyse and measure the volumetry of these lung nodules by reviewing progressive CT chest scans.
qCT is now live in Torbay and South Devon, Royal Devon (North and East), and Plymouth trusts, with Cornwall to follow in the New Year.
New campaign to attract newly qualified radiographers to the South West
We have been working with West of England Imaging Network on a project funded by NHS England South West to promote the South West region to newly qualified radiographers.
HR colleagues from the peninsula's trusts have been looking at how we can streamline recruitment processes in the network and provide a single front door for graduates to find roles and receive support with their application process.
Find out more details about the #SWRadLife campaign here and take a look at our new film featuring radiographers sharing what they love about working in the region:
Inspiring the radiographers of the future
We continued our series of successful careers events with sessions in Exeter University and Torbay Hospital in the autumn, and we supported further events at North Devon and Exeter hospitals.
More than 200 students attended the sessions, which are held jointly with the Peninsula Pathology Network and covered a wide range of careers in diagnostic radiography and healthcare science. The events feature interactive presentations and representatives from different specialties from trusts in the peninsula and beyond.
Hi, just a quick note to say thank you very much for organising my work experience last week. It was a very valuable experience in the real environment to confirm my choice of career.
J, who attended our July careers event at South West Imaging Training Academy in Plymouth.
The next careers event will be a Discovery Day at the Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in Truro on Saturday 18 January 2025.
World Radiography Day
Trusts marked World Radiography Day on Friday 8 November. Thanks to Karl Nottage, DXA Service Lead at North Devon District Hospital, for sharing these pictures from their event.
Karl (pictured on the right) says their stand attracted plenty of interest, and was staffed by a good cross-section of the radiography workforce. They also talked to some colleagues who were interested in potential apprenticeships.
Latest news from SWITA
The South West Imaging Training Academy is based in Plymouth and covers the South West region, providing imaging training.
In their latest update, you can find out more on:
- The launch of the Radiographer Leadership Programme, which aims to give band 5 and 6 Radiographers the opportunity to build on their leadership skills with the support of a coach.
- The Sonography Training, Education and Professional Support (STEPS) programme to support trainee sonographers to develop their clinical and professional skills.
- A study day for Radiographer Practitioners or other health professionals who are involved in the preliminary clinical evaluation (PCE) of x-rays. The CPD event will be held on Thursday 27 February at the Education Hub in Plymouth.
Data update
The selected data above is for all four PenRAD trusts in the year to date (end November 2024). As of last month, both demand and activity are up 6% compared to the previous year.
Outpatient and GP data
| Urgency | Dec-Nov 23 | Dec-Nov 24 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 55.63% | 57.72% | +2.1% |
| Urgent (6-week target) | 66.23% | 68.21% | +2.0% |
| Routine (6-week target) | 36.70% | 39.04% | +2.3% |
| Urgency | Dec-Nov 23 | Dec-Nov 24 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 44.51% | 46.08% | +1.6% |
| Urgent (6-week target) | 45.41% | 47.37% | +2.0% |
| Routine (6-week target) | 67.92% | 76.85% | +8.9% |
Reporting times are monitored for adherence to NHS England's diagnostic imaging reporting turnaround times released in August 2023. It is generally assumed that these targets will be shortened in the near future, hence we apply a routine target of two rather than four weeks.
The PenRAD BI dashboard is now live, providing the network with access to monthly data for requests, activity, and reporting. 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.
We will continue to develop the BI report in the New Year and will be organising drop-in sessions for users to ask questions about the report and get an overview of the functionality.
