The workshop brought together 143 medical directors, Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and Primary Care Trust (PCT) commissioners and Trust radiology clinical directors and managers to discuss the uneven provision of interventional radiology services across the country. Sir Bruce and the expert faculty revealed findings on how services can be improved for patients through a new roadmap document for hospitals. “I hope that this conference proves a spur to action,” Sir Bruce said.
The event, hosted by NHS Improvement, saw the unveiling of the roadmap document Interventional Radiology: Improving quality and outcomes for patients – a report from the National Imaging Board’ which is available on the Department of Health website (www.dh.gov.uk).
This follows on from a project launched by Sir Bruce and Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS in England and led by Erica Denton, national clinical director for Imaging, Department of Health, which explored barriers to the expansion of interventional radiology services and detailed recommendations on what actions commissioners and Trusts can take to overcome them.
The event was well received with further discussions now underway to move the project forward. Lesley Wright, director of Diagnostics at NHS Improvement, said: “NHS Improvement will be supporting this programme by working with a number of sites to improve their services and showcase their excellent practice.”
The next phase of work will continue in 2011 and includes a network of demonstration sites and service improvement projects with local Trusts, as well as further work to ensure that interventional radiology requirements are reflected in workforce and training improvements and the economic benefits realised.
