17th August 2009
Trusts using teleradiology to control costs and relieve EWTD pressure
NHS Trusts are turning to teleradiology to cost-effectively reduce the impact of the European Working Time Directive on patient services and training.
Medica, the largest remote reporting network in the UK, experienced a large rise in enquiries in the months before August 1st when the 48 hour working week came into force for doctors in training.
More than 20 Trusts have signed with Medica since May and the company revealed this week that it is in discussions with 50 others.
Chief Executive Simon Rasalingham says that the cost-effectiveness of using high quality, proven and scalable teleradiology services was proving to be a deciding factor.
“Radiology departments are being hit with a double whammy with the EWTD coming fully into force just as NHS budgets are being frozen”, he pointed out.
“Trusts seem to like the fact that teleradiology can be used as and when required and is therefore a highly-controllable cost. Having scans read only by UK-based and practising radiologists means that they can manage the costs and ensure the quality which gives them extraordinary control”.
Earlier this year, a blog on the Locum Staffing and Medical Staffing website reported on SpRs having to miss training sessions to meet the new rota commitments. “It has the knock-on effect that there are less senior SpRs available to cover consultant absence”, said the author.
“Consultants feel that trainees are not around, and computed tomography and ultrasound lists have to go uncovered instead of giving more senior SpRs the chance to take on the responsibility of reporting solo.”
A survey of NHS Finance Directors in July found that, in the face of a pessimistic financial outlook, 60% intended to “increase productivity” and 20% planned to outsource services this year.
The Department of Health says: “New ways of delivering services can help NHS organisations deliver high quality services, improve efficiency and productivity and meet the challenges of implementing the EWTD”.
In May, RAD Magazine reported that an informal survey carried out by the Faculty of Clinical Radiology has found that most training departments anticipate that full implementation in August “would result in major problems”.
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 about this news article, contact John V. Wright, Blue Planet Communications, 01782 711978.
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