09 August 2002
Although those needing general X-rays or urgent investigations had short waits, the waiting times for some less common procedures were 'excessive'. The average wait for a general ultrasound was eight weeks. A quarter of a million people were waiting for MRI scans and the average wait was 20 weeks. In many cases this led to delays in patients' treatments.
The commission said long waits were mostly due to an increase in demand for the more complex investigations. But it added that radiology departments with long waits could make better use of their equipment. They should screen requests to ensure they were appropriate and check whether low utilisation of scanners was causing bottlenecks.
In some departments with long waits, MRI scanners were in use for nine or fewer hours a day during the week. The best used their MRI scanners for 4,000 examinations a year, clocking up twice as many scans as similar units.
The auditors said trusts should benchmark their radiology departments' productivity against similar departments.
They should also seek to extend their operating hours and improve work scheduling.
Waiting was increased by a shortage of radiographers, the technicians who produce straightforward images, and radiologists, who traditionally interpret the images.
Radiologist vacancy rates were particularly acute in the Northwest of England (11%) and radiographers were difficult to find in London and the Southeast (15% vacancy rate in London). The report said radiographers' duties should be extended to reduce patient waiting.
Audit Commission controller Sir Andrew Foster said there was room for improvement, even though many patients received quick and effective diagnosis.
'The best radiology departments use equipment twice as effectively as others and there is great scope to learn from best practice. As more money comes into the NHS, the replacement of older equipment will help with improving the effective treatment of patients,' he added.
PFaug2002
