With the recession hitting all departments, UKRC 2009 was always going to face challenges, but sessions offered a range of advice in cost efficient practice and workforce development.
Dr Giles Roditi, consultant radiologist, Glasgow Royal Infirmary spoke on reducing dose and expanding versatility of cardiac CT and PECT CT: "In the credit crunch a 320 slice machine is very expensive for departments to purchase, so my talk aimed to help departments get most out of 64 slice."
Rebecca Vosper, Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust, told the story of how despite her trust's reduction in the number of radiologists and restrictive finances they have increased reporting capacity by 18-20% through the use of 12 radiographers who report autonomously. This means 44% of the reports in this trust are carried out by them.
Another session covered the practical implementation of changes using lean in radiology, which Amanda Martin, Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Bolton described as "not just a cost-cutting exercise, but a quality improvement system."
Elsewhere in the conference delegates heard updates on the ISAS search for radiography assessors; this year's SoR Fellowship Awards were announced and the SCoR eponymous lectures were delivered.
• See July's Synergy News.
