What 18 weeks has meant for the Radiology Department
The Radiology Department has had much success over the last 12 months in reducing waiting times for diagnostics.
A year ago patients will have waited on average 14 weeks for a test. This wait time has now been reduced to a maximum of four weeks - a reduction of over 75%. The Trust has now set a target of a waiting time of less than two weeks.
Radiology Services are working hard to maintain wait times within this target.
To reduce the number of patients waiting for investigation, extra sessions have been worked at weekends and in the evening since September.
Booking processes and pathways have been re-evaluated in the context of a new Radiology Information System (RIS) and the implementation of Picture Archiving & Communications System (PACS).
A centralized telephone booking service began in November 2007, initially dealing with GP referrals. All referrals will be managed in one location and booked cross-site via the RIS to maximize clinical capacity and improve cross-site scheduling.
Partial and direct booking has been proven to reduce cancellations and the number who do not attend.
Having reduced waiting times to these unprecedented levels the challenge now is to maintain them.