Philips and Wye Valley trust advance radiology service

Published: 13-Oct-2021

Completion of £2m radiology service redevelopment significantly increases Wye Valley NHS Trust’s imaging capacity


Royal Philips and Wye Valley NHS Trust have finished a major £2m radiology service redevelopment programme.

By significantly increasing imaging capacity, and working together with Philips through a managed dervices partnership, the trust has been able to reduce its diagnostic backlog caused by pressures from COVID-19, while also resuming normal capacity and service for 190,000 people living in Herefordshire.

In response to increasing demand for imaging services, including a 50-60% rise in Computed Tomography (CT), Wye Valley NHS Trust and the Philips team co-created solutions for new patient pathways and flow, while also guiding on replacing outmoded and outdated rooms with remodelled layouts.

The Philips Compressed Sense software installation on the MRI replacement played a significant role in enabling the Wye Valley Trust to reduce its backlog and ensure continuity of service for patients.

As a result, the trust has been able to scan at least an additional four patients per day, increasing its total throughput of patients by 10-15%.

Like much of the NHS, the Wye Valley NHS Trust has been dealing with added pressures that COVID-19 has placed on hospital resources, including a huge backlog in diagnostic services and treatment

These outcomes were part of an 11-year managed service partnership that Philips agreed with the Wye Valley Trust in 2018 to drive excellence across the radiology service and improve clinical outcomes for patients in the area.

The redevelopment project was completed in stages to ensure continuity of service, with additional services introduced. including MRI and a dedicated interventional suite, which were critical in helping restore normal diagnostic capabilities.

“During one of the most-testing times for the NHS, Philips’ flexibility and willingness to work together with the trust to fulfil our needs and benefit patients has been paramount,” said Daniel Harding, general manager for diagnostics at the trust.

“They rapidly replaced 60% of the equipment inside the first two years of the partnership, which was vital for achieving our transformational milestones.

“Philips also brought in creative solutions to help us meet the immense demand for diagnostic services in a challenging COVID-19 environment.”

Stephen McMillan, head of solutions at Philips UK and Ireland, added: “Like much of the NHS, the Wye Valley NHS Trust has been dealing with added pressures that COVID-19 has placed on hospital resources, including a huge backlog in diagnostic services and treatment.

Our successes have not just been achieved due to new equipment. Improving pathways and optimising how our patients flow through our radiology department have been vital to our transformation

“We have a genuine partnership in place with the trust that enabled us to work together to find creative, high-impact solutions to support patients.

“It is humbling to know that our collaboration has significantly helped to reduce diagnostic backlogs, allowing Herefordshire residents to benefit from these improved diagnostic services.”

And Jane Ives, the trust’s managing director, said: “At the heart of our trust strategy is integrated care.

“Through collaboration, Philips and the trust identified several improvement and education projects and inside the first 12 months, delivered an initial ‘fast-track’ programme to replace essential imaging equipment, optimising capacity.

“Our successes have not just been achieved due to new equipment. Improving pathways and optimising how our patients flow through our radiology department have been vital to our transformation.”

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