A breakthrough model for tackling diagnosis and treatment backlogs in the UK

The UK’s healthcare system continues to battle through challenges posed by COVID-19. The ongoing impact of the pandemic is severe. As of October 2021, waiting list for treatments in England sits at 5.72 million [1].?The number of patients who will be waiting more than a year for treatment is a 236-fold increase from August 2019 [2].??

Even as healthcare systems become more efficient at caring for COVID-19 patients we are heading into yet another period of uncertainty this winter, particularly considering last year’s extremely low flu infection rates. This is despite the welcome news that the first pill designed to treat symptomatic COVID-19 has received approval from the UK’s medicines regulator and Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s commitment to tackle the backlog and scale up elective capacity by more than 30% by 2024-45.

Radiology at the heart of this challenge

Radiology departments are already under immense strain. According to a recent report from the Royal College of Radiologists, the consultant radiologist workforce in England is 33 per cent short-staffed and needs at least another 1,939 full-time consultant clinical radiologist to keep up with safe staffing quotas and the demand for scans [3].

It is therefore vital for radiology departments to create new capacity if we are to bridge the diagnosis and treatment gap. Part of this support can come through innovation and new models of care.?

A pioneering model that reimagines how medical services are provided

In September, I posted about the potential of Radiology Operations Command Centres (ROCC) to provide critical support to radiology departments by accelerating care pathways. This new vision for radiology departments and imaging providers has now been realised with our new partnership with Alliance Medical to pilot ROCC. As a first of its kind in the UK, ROCC’s vendor-agnostic approach broadens the scope of collaboration and expertise sharing across the image acquisition process. This means ROCC can one day be introduced in other healthcare systems around the world.?

To provide some context, ROCC is a virtual imaging command centre that enables on-site radiology teams to access an additional layer of real-time, over-the-shoulder collaboration and support from senior radiologists based in other locations. This approach will help speed up the diagnosis process and maximise patient throughput. Early adopters including St Peter’s Hospital in Surrey, University Hospital Hartlepool, West Middlesex University Hospital and Ashford Hospital in Middlesex are leading the way in rolling out these services.?

Radiology departments are already experiencing the value ROCC brings. They have valued being able to access this support while a patient is being scanned, to sense check images. Critically, this is reducing avoidable re-imaging which can create bottlenecks during busy periods. The continuity of scanning performance, reduced need for staff to travel and opportunity for career progression for senior radiographers will also be notable benefits.??

Tackling the challenges today, for a better future tomorrow

There are no quick fixes to tackling the backlog for diagnosis and treatment in the NHS. It will take time and require a combination of funding, innovation and cutting-edge technology to reduce it.?

Radiology departments will face significant challenges in the coming years. It is mission critical that new ways to manage patient pathways are implemented today. As a key partner to the NHS and wider health system in the UK and Ireland, I believe that ROCC is a powerful example of how innovation can be utilised to meet these challenges.

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[1] https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressure-points-in-the-nhs

[2] https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressure-points-in-the-nhs

[3] https://wpieconomics.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/WPI-Economics-RCR-Final-report-Oct-21.pdf