As of January 2024, the number of patients waiting more than 6 weeks dropped to 66,190, but the MRI backlog alone had reached 302,640 patients.
Waiting time targets for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer vary across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but NHS England has introduced a new target called The Faster Diagnosis standard (FDS), meaning a patient should not wait more than 28 days from referral to diagnosis. This becomes a much more challenging target with over 60,000 patients waiting 6 weeks or more for a scan.
With breast screening for example, some patients may require additional imaging modalities following mammography and ultrasound during a one stop breast cancer service. With the MRI backlogs and the 28-day FDS in mind, having alternative imaging modalities with improved patient throughput is vital.
The RCR last year warned: “All of NHS England’s diagnostic and main cancer targets were missed yet again.” Their analysis, titled “State of the Wait,” placed the blame squarely on workforce shortages, highlighting the need for urgent action.
To clear the backlog in just one month, the NHS would need to hire an additional 386 radiologists overnight – a daunting task equivalent to 10% of the current workforce.
The need for innovation in healthcare has never been more apparent. As the RCR rightly pointed out, “We can no longer do more of the same – we need a new approach to how we deliver services which will require the system embracing innovation and supporting the workforce.”
One such innovative solution comes in the form of the nu:view Breast CT scanner. With the potential to alleviate MRI backlogs and increase breast screening uptake, the nu:view has the capacity to scan around 7,000 patients a year.
What’s more, it can be operated by a trained technician, freeing up radiologists to tackle other waiting lists.
nu:view is the world’s first breast CT scanner to utilise spiral CT and photon-counting technology. With a single rotation around the breast, it can create up to 2,000 projection images in as little as 7 to 12 seconds – all without the need for breast compression.
This ground-breaking technology allows for the acquisition of high-quality, true 3D images of the entire breast with superb soft-tissue differentiation, without any superimpositions.
In addition to its exceptional image quality, the nu:view is effective in imaging more dense breast tissue and breast implants, making it an invaluable tool in the fight against breast cancer.
The adoption of new technology and medical innovation will play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and achieving the targets set for cancer diagnosis and treatment across the UK.
If you would like to learn more about how the nu:view can help alleviate MRI backlogs and improve patient outcomes, please contact us at 07539 057 831 or info@medilife.net.
