If someone had told radiology leaders before the pandemic that reporting backlogs would be reduced to virtually zero by May, I'm sure they would have gaped in disbelief.
In the past, it took lots of effort to either invoke or accept change of any kind in radiology. For managers, there’s been risk associated with putting your head above the parapet or being a trailblazer. It has been easier to follow the well-trodden path, rather than create a new one.
Since the introduction of digital radiography and PACS, radiology reporting backlogs have been contentious. Before the pandemic, insufficient reporting capacity led to a build-up of outstanding reports, which led to high levels of outsourcing and growing pressures to meet new deadlines, such as the cancer pathway targets.
Covid-19 has been a 'clear the decks' exercise, resulting in backlogs across the UK being virtually eliminated. Who would have thought that the worst crisis to hit the world in 75 years would be a catalyst for NHS radiology departments to press the reset button?
Now radiology is at a crossroads, which is why InHealth are holding 'The radiology reset button has been pressed' on 17 June, in partnership with the SoR and the British Institute of Radiology.
For the first time, there is headspace to plan for the post-pandemic recovery.
How do we avoid going back to where we were before? How can capacity best be utilised? What can radiology departments do to ensure that an outcome will always reach the patient whilst the management of their condition can still be affected?
The free online event brings together senior figures to offer insights, opinions and advice on how we can approach this coming period and use the positives we have experienced during the pandemic to create service improvements throughout radiology. Delegates will be able to question the speakers in the panel discussions after the presentations.
Speakers include:
- The SoR's director of professional policy, Charlotte Beardmore
- Sue Johnson, SoR professional officer
- Professor Alison Leary, chair of healthcare and workforce modelling at London Southbank University
- Andy Howlett, director of diagnostics, medicines and pharmacy improvement, NHS England and Improvement
- Dr Caroline Rubin, Royal College of Radiologists
- Dr Sam Hare, consultant chest radiologist, Royal Free London
- Dr Valerie Middleton, consultant radiographer, University North Midlands Hospital
- Richard Lewis, head of radiology digital solutions, University Hospital Southampton
Registration closes on Wednesday, 17 June at 5pm. If you are unable to attend the live event, the recording will be available on the BIR website from Friday, 19 June.
See the event overview and full programme. I look forward to seeing you there!