Shropshire Trust Aims to Reduce Scan Result Wait Times to Two Weeks

A Shropshire health trust has announced that the waiting period for CT scan results, which previously extended to three months, is projected to decrease to two weeks by Christmas. Data from NHS England indicates that from January to June 2024, over 4,000 individuals in Shropshire experienced delays in receiving scan results that exceeded the government’s four-week benchmark. The Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust stated that it has achieved a reduction in waiting periods by contracting out a portion of its radiology reporting services to Australia. Julie Bickley, a resident of Wem whose husband is battling cancer, shared that their previous wait for his scan results was 12 weeks, but they received information on his most recent scan in under a week. Nigel Bickley is undergoing treatment for terminal bowel cancer, which has metastasized to his liver and kidney. He needs consistent monitoring scans to assess the effectiveness of his treatment. His wife, Julie, emphasized the critical importance of the reduction in waiting times to two weeks, not only for the management of her husband’s cancer but also for the overall well-being of their family. Julie Bickley expressed, “It’s the waiting, the not knowing… I do hope this is something that will continue and the hospital will stand by its statement.” Helen Morgan, the Member of Parliament for North Shropshire, has expressed approval for the initiatives aimed at shortening the wait times for results from CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. In November, MP Morgan informed the House of Commons that the county held the poorest record nationwide concerning scan results. She stated that NHS statistics indicate that one out of every three individuals referred by their general practitioner for an MRI, CT, or X-ray scan at SaTH experiences a wait exceeding one month for their results. Jo Williams, SaTH’s interim chief executive officer, verified in correspondence to the MP that urgent CT scan turnaround times were anticipated to show substantial improvement by Christmas, aiming to meet the two-week target. She explained that scan reporting was being delegated to external providers, including Everlight Radiology in Australia, to assist in managing demand and accelerating the procedure. The trust further indicated that the outstanding CT scan backlog is projected to be resolved by the close of January, and MRI reporting is expected to be completely restored by March. Ms. Morgan commented, “No one should have to endure the mental and physical toll of waiting weeks or even months for the results of a scan.” She added, “These tests are often the first step in accessing treatment, and delays risk making health outcomes far worse while causing added stress and anxiety. We must ensure this progress is maintained in the long term.” She also noted that while outsourcing plays a crucial role in addressing the immediate crisis, it does not represent a sustainable long-term solution. Dr. Katharine Halliday, president of the Royal College of Radiologists, stated, “The problem is we just don’t have enough radiologists.”