8. Conclusions
This report sets the strategic direction which will be required to deliver patient centred radiology services which improve the quality and value of direct patient care. A commitment that from December 2011 the maximum time a patient will wait from GP referral to treatment will be no longer than 18 weeks, requires these services to be strategically provided. Measuring radiology service provision on a consistent basis across Scotland will help identify opportunities for improvement and deliver an understanding of the performance of radiology services to ensure greater efficiency and an improved patient experience.
There is potential to improve the efficiency of delivery and use of radiology services by the collection and analysis of a robust dataset. Imaging services have reduced waiting times significantly to the extent that waits in excess of 6 weeks are uncommon. Significant capital and revenue investment has been made in resources to support improvement and delivery of high quality services.
This report makes a number of recommendations that will effect more robust data collection to enable comparative approaches through benchmarking services. In addition it aims to support efficiency and productivity improvement through a robust understanding of the service and considering a performance monitoring framework.
This report contains 14 recommendations; the Diagnostics Steering Group through the MDN, will support implementation of the recommendations by developing a detailed action plan. This will involve agreed prioritisation of recommendations in consultation with NHS Boards during 2009 to ensure delivery by 2013.