12 December 2023
Hospital MRI waiting lists in Jersey have been reduced by 61% in the last three months.
In September 2023 patients were waiting 54 weeks for a scan to be carried out, but the
wait-time is on course to be cut to just six weeks by 22 December. It currently sits at seven
weeks.
Increased demand for the scanners had resulted in large waiting lists so senior
management and clinicians worked together to assess the best course of action.
The recent decrease in waiting lists was achieved by running the hospital's two MRI
scanners concurrently. The second scanner was being used as a backup but by recruiting
extra specialist staff both are now in operation at the same time.
Dr Salman Zaman, consultant radiologist, said: “This initiative demonstrates the dedication
of frontline staff and senior managers, working together tirelessly to continue to provide
the healthcare Islanders rightly expect and deserve.
"It highlights the need for the States to
attract, recruit and then retain the highly-skilled senior managers, doctors and allied
healthcare professionals, without whom, modern healthcare cannot be provided.
"Finally, it
is an example of how, by working together to align the provision of public and private
healthcare, in the best interest of all patients, the hospital is able to fund the rapidly
increasing demand for this (MRI scanner) by States patients, who in this particular case
have benefited the most.”
The reduction has been achieved despite various challenges, including storm disruption
and the scanners being out of action for two weeks.
The scanners are being utilised by both public and private patients and by allowing private
use of the facilities, income is being generated for the public service. The current split is
70% public, 30% private with patient safety the priority at all times.
Private waiting lists have been reduced from eight weeks to two weeks and it is projected
they will be at zero by Christmas. A business case has been put forward to increase the scanners’ capacity, so they can be
used 24 hours a day next year.
This will mean scans are available on request to any patients
who urgently need one. Extra members of staff were initially recruited on locum contracts to bolster the radiology
team and the plan is for permanent appointments to be made in 2024.
This fulfils the
government’s Financial Recovery Plan objective to maintain quality while giving maximum
value for money.
Obi Hasan, Financial Recovery Director and Change Team Finance Lead, said: “We have
managed to cut the waiting lists for the MRI scanners by 61%, which is an incredible
achievement. It is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and perfectly
illustrates the ethos of our financial recovery plan.”
gov.je