Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today that, from November, thousands of patients facing long waits for diagnostic tests such as MRI and CT scans in their local hospital will be offered the choice of going to another hospital to have their scan more quickly.

The 'choice of scans' programme will ensure that:

- NHS patients get faster access to scans;

- Spare capacity in the NHS will be better used;

- Independent providers will be able to offer services more widely to patients across the NHS.

Under the scheme around 80,000 patients who have been referred by their GP or consultant for a non-urgent scan but who face a long wait for their first diagnostic procedure will be contacted and offered the choice of earlier treatment at an alternative hospital.

NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts, and independent healthcare providers - working for the NHS to NHS principles, standards and prices - will be eligible to provide diagnostic scans for these patients.

From November 2005, patients waiting longer than 20 weeks for MRI and CT scans will be offered the choice of a scan at another hospital. This will mean a maximum wait of 26 weeks for patients in this first phase. By April 2006, this will be extended to patients waiting longer than 16 weeks for the overwhelming majority of imaging scans including MRI, CT, ultrasound or DEXA scans, with the maximum wait falling to 20 weeks.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said:

"We have already made it clear that by 2008 nobody will wait longer than 18 weeks from GP referral to their treatment in hospital. Speedier access to diagnostic tests is an essential part of achieving that.

"Whilst we build this capacity, I want to make sure that no patient has to wait longer than necessary for their scan if there is somewhere else in the NHS or independent sector that can provide it more quickly. This scheme will complement our investment in diagnostics.

"Independent studies of earlier NHS choice schemes showed that patients valued choice and that choice shortened waiting times. This new programme builds on that successful model by offering a choice at an earlier stage in the patient's journey from GP surgery to treatment.

"The most serious cases, such as where a GP suspects cancer, are already fast-tracked for diagnostic tests. However those patients waiting for less urgent scans should still get them as soon as the NHS can provide. No NHS patient should wait unnecessarily if there is another hospital able to scan them sooner."

She added:

"We know that many patients are caught in a 'bottleneck' of waiting for a scan or other diagnostic service, before they are referred for an operation. This can be a worrying and uncertain time for patients. To them it is very much part of the time they have to wait.

"This scheme will help to tackle this 'hidden waiting list'. It is an important step on the way towards our goal of a total maximum wait of 18 weeks from surgery door to hospital treatment by 2008 - which includes time for any diagnostic tests that are needed."

"Today's announcement builds on the �1bn procurement in diagnostics over five years. Over the same period, we estimate the NHS is planning to spend a further �1.4 billion on diagnostics."

Enquiries from media only to Malcolm Fawcett on 020 7210 5281 or Lizzy Bell on 020 7210 5896
Any other enquiries to the Department of Health on 020 7210 4850

1. The programme will be rolled out in two phases:

- November 2005 Phase 1 - choice of scan begins for CT/MRI for any patients waiting longer than 20 weeks. Patients are guaranteed a maximum wait of 26 weeks.

- April 2006 Phase 2 - choice of scan extended to cover the overwhelming majority of imaging scans including ultrasound. Choice offered to patients waiting longer than 16 weeks, with a guaranteed maximum wait of 20 weeks.

2. This programme is modelled on other successful schemes: 'choice at 6 months' for planned operations, the 'General Supplementary' independent sector treatment centre procurement, and the use of independent sector mobile MRI scanners to increase MRI capacity across the country.

3. Choice at 6 months was a successful initiative which allowed hospitals to use the existing capacity successfully and gave patients who had been waiting the longest the choice to have their operation more quickly at another hospital or treatment centre.

4. The 'G-Supp' procurement has proved excellent value for money by using existing independent sector facilities' extra capacity to help cut elective surgery waiting times.

5. The mobile cataract contract with Alliance Medical provided extra capacity and extra staff and has slashed waiting times across the country.

6. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests use magnetic fields to build images of soft tissues in the body. MRI is used for diagnosing and/or measuring the extent of disease.

7. CT stands for computer tomography. CT uses special x-ray equipment to obtain image data from different angle round the body, and then uses computer processing of information to show a cross section of body tissues and organs. CT scans can be used to diagnose problems such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, trauma and musculoskeletal disorders.

8. A DEXA scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is used to determine bone density to detect other bone disorders and conditions, eg. osteoporosis.

The procedure involves a low dose of X-rays passed across the body. X-rays are separated into beams of differing intensity enabling the scan to detect the density of bone and soft tissue separately.

It is a fast and accurate test, and is preferred over other X-ray procedures as it is more sensitive. DEXA scans measure the calcium content in the bones - this cannot be evaluated in other plain film X-rays. In addition, DEXA can be used to detect other bone disorders and conditions, and to monitor the relative amounts of body fat and muscle in the body.

The scan usually takes between 10 and 30 minutes. No preparation for the test is required and the patient can go straight home immediately.

Media Release from the UK Dept of Health
 

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