Backlogs and delays to radiology reporting said to be putting patients at risk

A time limit for reporting the results of x-rays and scans to patients has been proposed by the regulator of health care services in England, amid fears of inconsistent practice in hospitals and the consequence of delayed reporting on patient treatment.

The Care Quality Commission’s review of radiology practices found significant variations in the amount of time taken to report the results of scans and x-rays to patients. This, in turn, impacted on patient’s receiving timely care. The review also highlighted there were not enough radiologists to meet demand and identified the shortage as a contributory factor to the delays and backlogs.

The shortage of radiologists has not gone unreported within recent years. Sara Bainbridge, policy manager at Cancer Research UK, commented: patients could be missing out on timely scan results to tell them if they have cancer.

Dr Nicola Strickland, president of The Royal College of Radiologists, also criticised the Government for failing to invest in trainee radiologists commenting: “Without more radiologists, more patients will miss out on vital new interventional procedures, and they will wait even longer for diagnoses of cancer and serious diseases.”

Professor Ted Baker, CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, explained that the report revealed a major disparity in timescales for interpreting and reporting on examinations, meaning some patients were left waiting far longer for their results. He commented: “We are calling for agreed national standards to ensure consistent, timely reporting of radiological examinations… this will allow trusts to monitor and benchmark their own performance and ensure that, for example, patients are not put at risk by delays in their x-ray results.”

Sarah Barrett, Trainee Solicitor in the Medical Negligence team, comments: “It’s disheartening to learn that once again, staff shortages are being blamed for the declining standards in patient healthcare. Whilst the recommendations made by the CQC go some way in protecting patients, I remain dubious as to whether these standards, like others set in the past (A & E and appointment waiting times, to name but a few) will be met.”