The Royal College of
Radiologists
Giles Maskell
President
• Causes of variation
• The work of the RCR
• Referral guidance
• Accreditation
• The future role of the radiologist
• The focus on patients
Causes of variation
• Technological innovation and changes in
clinical practice
• Equipment
• Expertise
• Availability/capacity
• Culture
What does the RCR do?
Leadership
Education
Support
A few of the things the RCR does
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prepares and issues guidance and sets standards across the range
of radiological practice
Designs, delivers and assures the quality of training
Referral guidelines (i-Refer)
Conducts national audits – nephrostomy, liver biopsy, cancer
staging
conducts workforce and workload censuses
READ – shared learning from experience
CPD – conferences and events
Supports radiologists and radiology departments in difficulty
Runs an accreditation scheme for radiology departments (ISAS)
Lobbies health policy makers to promote the role of imaging and
radiologists in healthcare
A few of the things the RCR does
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
prepares and issues guidance and sets standards across the range
of radiological practice
Designs, delivers and assures the quality of training
Referral guidelines (i-Refer)
Conducts national audits – nephrostomy, liver biopsy, cancer
staging
conducts workforce and workload censuses
READ – shared learning from experience
CPD – conferences and events
Supports radiologists and radiology departments in difficulty
Runs an accreditation scheme for radiology departments (ISAS)
Lobbies health policy makers to promote the role of imaging and
radiologists in healthcare
i-Refer
• 21 year history, now in 7th edition
• Formerly known as “Making Best Use of a
Department of Clinical Radiology” (MBUR)
• Available free on N3 to NHS users in all 4
countries (also as Apple and Android app)
• Sophisticated methodology using Delphi process
• 14000 hours of consultant radiologist time
• Accredited by NICE/NHS Evidence
• International leader
Imaging Services Accreditation Scheme
(ISAS)
ISAS
• A patient focussed accreditation scheme
• 4 domains:
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Clinical
Facilities, Resources and workforce
Patient experience
Safety
• 50 radiology services in England already
engaged in the process and supported by the
National Imaging Programme Board in Wales
The future role of the radiologist
• A readily available resource for advice on diagnostic
pathways
• At the interface between traditional primary and
secondary care, taking control of patient pathways
• At the “front door” of the hospital promoting early
discharge
• Central to the development of “personalised medicine”
through molecular imaging
• Undertaking an increasing range of minimally invasive
techniques, replacing traditional therapies esp in cancer
care.
Our future relationship with patients
• Increased direct contact
• Increased public awareness and interest in
imaging (including errors)
• ? Reports direct to patients