Last week it was a pleasure and a privilege to chair the NHS Radiology Conference 2022 in London. Organised by Convenzis, who deliver events for the Public, Private, Education, Government, Healthcare and Third sectors, the event is described as ‘the leading event covering NHS Imaging and Radiology updates’.
Held at Hatfields Conference Centre in London, over 150 delegates from the radiology community attended on the day and it was great to see so many people in person. Everyone benefitted from a series of great presentations and the face-to-face network opportunities, with a timely platform to listen, learn and share insights based on national imaging strategies.
The first session of the day was given by Sheila Black, Deputy Head of Imaging Transformation, NHS England. Sheila updated the conference on the plans of NHS England and Improvement to develop and implement networks on a national basis, describing the intentions that networks improve the quality of patient care and provide imaging professionals with improved career progression opportunities.
This was followed by my own presentation describing the Greater Manchester imaging network journey and our Digital Diagnostic Enterprise solution procurement and implementation. James Blackwood, Chief Technology Officer and NHS National Programme Manager from iCaird gave a stimulating virtual presentation ‘Transforming healthcare with augmented intelligence (AI)’ – describing what AI is, and importantly, what AI is not. Lou Herron, Superintendent Radiographer CT/MRI at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth concluded the first session.
Following a Q&A panel and networking break, Jan Kidd, Service Manager and Lee Sydenham, Healthcare Digital Architect from the Salisbury, Wight and South Hampshire Domain Trusts (SWASH) described their evolution as an Imaging Consortium. Jonathan Bridges, CIO Exponential-e and his colleague James Tear from Unstructured Data Solutions presented a case study on streamlining workflow with innovation and technology, highlighting the importance of protecting data and systems against cyber-attacks.
Dr Gerald Lip, Clinical Director, NHS Grampian (undeterred by a 3-hour journey from Heathrow airport to the event), gave an insightful clinical presentation on AI in breast screening. This was followed by Dr Imran Siddiqui, UK/I Radiology Medical Advisor at Bayer Plc. who described the reasons we need platform technology, and the power of platform technology for medical imaging AI.
Before lunch, there was another Q&A panel and further networking. I happily missed lunch as the event provided such good opportunities for networking. It was too good an opportunity to miss to catch up with several colleagues who I have had the fortune of building relationships in imaging circles in recent months – including Dr Bobby Agrawal from East of England and Katrina Hickinbotham from Birmingham Dental Hospital.
I opened the afternoon sessions with a Chair’s address ahead of two contrasting but excellent presentations; Alexandra Lipton , Professional Officer for the Society of Radiographers spoke on the Quality Standards for Imaging Networks (QSIN); followed by Rhidian Hurle, CCIO for Wales and the MD at Digital Health Care Wales Radiology: Once for Wales – a non-radiologist view, who gave an amusing delivery but highlighted some really powerful messages, encouraging the audience to make the changes they would like to deliver.
The day concluded with an excellent panel debate on personalised care and the role imaging colleagues can play. This was chaired by Dr Emma Hyde, in her capacity as Clinical Director of the Personalised Care Institute, supported by Professor Alf Collins, National Clinical Director of Personalised Care, NHS England and Charlotte Beardmore, Executive Director of Professional Policy, The Society and College of Radiographers.