The team who provide vital diagnostic imaging services to patients across Sheffield’s five adult hospitals have been recognised nationally for providing patients with high quality services.
Medical imaging experts, radiologists, radiographers, nurses and clinical support staff from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are one of only a handful of NHS Foundation Trusts in the country to receive Imaging Service Accreditation Scheme (ISAS) accreditation, a prestigious quality assurance mark.
The scheme, which is run jointly by the Royal College of Radiologists and College of Radiographers, supports diagnostic imaging services to manage the quality of their services and make continuous improvements for the benefit of patients.
The Medical Imaging department at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals provides diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures to patients from Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region, aiding disease prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment. The team
acquire and interpret over half a million images using radiography (X-rays), mammography, fluoroscopy, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine and ultrasound.
Karen Glencross, Medical Imaging Manager for Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This was a whole team effort, and I’m immensely proud of everyone who has worked so hard to achieve this prestigious accolade. ISAS accreditation is now formally recognised by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care services, so this was a tough process to complete and is evidence of the high standards of service and patient care that we deliver.”
To achieve the accreditation, staff worked tirelessly over several months to complete a rigorous submission and inspection process, with policies and processes reviewed to ensure they are focused on patients and continuous improvement.
Dr Sue Matthews, Clinical Director for Medical Imaging and Medical Physics, added: “ISAS accreditation for a department of this size was a massive achievement and down to the hard work of everyone in the department including the frontline staff such as radiographers, radiologists, nurses and support staff as well as behind the scenes staff in clinical engineering and medical physics. Medical imaging and medical physics were delighted to have been shown to have maintained their high standards after the entire radiology department was ranked as Outstanding in the 2015 Care Quality Commission inspection.”
The Directorate of Medical Imaging and Medical Physics is one of the largest Directorates within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and plays a key role in every aspect of the services the Trust provides and also delivers services to other Trusts and external organisations. Staff are highly trained, and encompass a diverse combination of medical, clinical, scientific, technical and administrative roles.
Medical Imaging and Medical Physics is also an Academic Directorate with close links
to universities, locally and nationally, and a focus on strengthening research and
innovation to improve clinical care.
