Healthcare Commission review of radiology
The Healthcare Commission will be examining imaging services as part of its Acute Hospital Portfolio (AHP) Improvement Review of Diagnostic Services later this year. The review will include major imaging departments in English acute, multi-service and some specialist trusts. It is also likely to cover Wales and Northern Ireland, but not PCT run departments, or independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs). It is intended that the findings of this review will feed into Healthcare Commission ratings of service providers in England, but its prime purpose is to provide benchmarking information that will complement other initiatives and be useful to all service providers and commissioners.
The data collection requirements will resemble a slightly cut down version of the Audit Commission Review of Radiology in 2001, but with some additions to reflect current issues. This will enable progress over the intervening four years to be benchmarked as well as current performance.
The Healthcare Commission will be writing to trust chief executives early in June enclosing an outline of its proposals. Please make sure that this reaches your department as it notes a number of data collection issues where advance planning may be required. It will also be posted on the Commission's website. Click here. Link to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/acutehospitalportfolio
The data returns are currently being piloted at a number of trusts, but the Commission would also welcome wider feedback and so will be posting the draft returns on its website for general comment by 15 June. The forms will go 'live' in early August.
Local performance specialists appointed by the Audit Commission will be holding set-up meetings at each trust in August or early September to explain what is involved and answer questions. It is important that radiology departments are represented at one of these meetings.
Your department then has until 15 November to complete the returns. All of the data collected will feed into indicators that will be benchmarked and fed back to participating trusts in February/March 2006. Departmental managers will have a chance to comment before the local auditor submits a report to senior management.
If you have any questions at this stage, please e-mail Cressida.Miller@healthcarecommission.org.uk
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