This section identifies several high-level anticipated benefits which stakeholders expect to be achieved through this investment.
- Patients could have scans locally, including at community diagnostic centres, regardless of where they were being treated.
- Patients who have their care transferred to another provider would not have to have their scan repeated as images will be available immediately to clinicians across GM. This would reduce diagnosis and treatment times, as well as improving patient experience.
- Where a specialist opinion is required, images would be shared between sites and reported by the relevant specialist, improving diagnosis, treatment plans and outcomes.
- Patients would follow consistent pathways, agreed by clinicians as the most effective and efficient, regardless of where they are being cared for.
- Drives up clinical quality which improves patient care
- Better access to sub speciality expertise
- Access to new technology and the latest diagnostic equipment
- Equity of access to services
- Staff will have instant access to images / samples acquired across GM, reducing the time they spend retrieving images or repeating scans/ samples and reports presently.
- A single workforce plan for GM could offer training and development opportunities which will provide better prospects for sub-specialism
- Opportunities to work more flexibly across the system, including home working, cross-site working and insourcing.
- Standardised practice will ensure scans will look the same regardless of where they are acquired, making cross-site reporting and treatment easier for staff.
- Agreed patient pathways and sharing of images should reduce unnecessary activity and release costs.
- Cross GM insourcing may support a reduction in outsourcing costs.
- Increased scale may offer opportunities for increased value for money on procurements.
- The training and development of imaging staff should reduce expensive agency and locum costs in the longer term.