Investment in the latest radiology technologies is important to support pioneering treatments, while ageing equipment also exposes patients to higher levels of radiation.
Trusts are now turning to managed equipment services to overhaul ageing radiology services, increasing the reliability and efficiency of their radiology departments.
In November 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement published its national strategy for imaging networks.1 The report highlighted challenges with the age of imaging capital equipment being utilised in England, with a significant proportion of CT, MRI and general X-ray equipment being older than 10 years old. OECD data and two recent national data collections have highlighted the fact that the asset base needs updating with at least 14% of CT and 34% of MRI being 10 years or older. The UK also ranks poorly when compared to other international countries
The guidance of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and the European Society of Radiology (ESR) has previously advised that capital equipment replacement should be around 10 years. Beyond this age, equipment is less efficient and prone to breakdown, and the radiation dosage is likely to be higher than for similar newer equipment.
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