23rd November 2009
Meeting ‘full’ as departments struggle to cope with the National Stroke Strategy
A key scientific meeting to help radiology departments cope with the demands of the National Stroke Strategy is fully booked.
The British Institute of Radiology put up the ‘meeting full’ signs almost two months before the meeting, Imaging in Stroke – the Challenges Ahead, is due to be held on December 9 at its headquarters.
The meeting, organised by Dr Sri Redla, Mr Stewart Whitley and the BIR's Clinical Imaging Committee, is sponsored by Medica Group, the UK’s largest teleradiology company.
One of the speakers at the meeting, Bob Harper, Medica’s Chief Operating Officer, said that the phenomenal response to the meeting was a reflection of the concern being felt by radiology departments all over the UK.
“My talk is called ‘How do you deliver such a demanding service in practice?’ and this is exactly the question that radiology departments are struggling with”, he said.
“The National Stroke Strategy is a step improvement in how patients presenting with symptoms of stroke will be cared for. But at a time when there is a national shortage of consultant radiologists, on-call rotas are stretched and patients are presenting 24/7, there is widespread concern about the logistics of reporting scans”.
Other contributors include Damian Jenkinson from the Stroke Improvement Program and Dr Erika Denton from the Department of Health whose paper ‘The Future of Diagnostic Imaging Services in England’ is keenly anticipated.
BIR have opened a waiting list hotline – 0207 307 1411 – for the meeting.
For further information about this news article, contact John V. Wright, Blue Planet Communications, 01782 711978.
Notes to Editors
The Medica Group partners more than 70 NHS Trusts across the country and today operates the largest remote radiology reporting network in the UK.
In May 2008, the British Medical Association (BMA), warned that there was a shortage of consultant radiologists in the country to meet increasing demand for emergency interventional treatments, diagnostic imaging and screening.
It estimated that 1,300 extra consultant radiologists were needed in the NHS in England in the coming years.
For further information on our remote Reporting Service, please telephone
0845 0569 750 and ask for the Business Development Team, or email us: info@medicagroup.co.uk
