Health trusts in Northern Ireland have now had all of their diagnostic imaging services accredited.
NI Health minister Mike Nesbitt has praised the trusts, congratulating them on the many year of hard work by highly trained radiographers, consultant radiologists and other allied health professionals.
He added that he was proud of their dedication to providing essential services to the local population.
Northern Ireland is home to six Health and Social Care (HSC) trusts, five of which provide imaging services: Belfast HSC Trust, South Eastern HSC Trust, Western HSC Trust, Southern HSC Trust, Northern HSC Trust. The sixth NI trust is Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.
Continuous improvement
Quality Standards for Imaging (QSI) sets national quality criteria for imaging services. It is a collaboration between The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and the College of Radiographers (CoR), to improve the quality of care for people attending an imaging service.
The new QSI Quality Mark was developed because the RCR and the CoR are “deeply invested” in the long-term health and welfare of the imaging workforce and its patients.
QSI is a continuous improvement programme, services are re-assessed each year and must demonstrate that they continue to meet the standard in order to maintain their award.
'Safe and effective'
Mr Nesbitt added: “Accreditation against a recognised imaging standard such as the QSI is an important quality indicator, both for imaging departments and clinical services, and is an important driver for ensuring standardisation in practice across Northern Ireland against regulations and best clinical practice."
Around 1.8m examinations are provided each year by imaging services in NI.
'Tribute to staff'
Neil Guckian, chief executive of the Western Trust, the first in Northern Ireland to attain accreditation, said: “It is essential for patients and clinicians to have access to high quality medical images that are critical for the care and treatment of patients.”
Mike Nesbitt added: “I am acutely aware that services remain under significant pressure and that not all patients are being seen in the timeframe they, or I, would like. I want to pay tribute to staff who continue to work hard to maintain high standards of care and assure both staff and patients that I am committed to doing all within my power to secure the funding that our health service needs.”