PenRAD Imaging Network newsletter
September 2025
Welcome
Welcome to the latest edition of the PenRAD newsletter.
As PenRAD now enters its fifth year, it is worth reflecting how well the imaging departments at our member trusts have coped with the enormous increase in demand for imaging services since 2021.
Despite an average demand increase of 7% for all imaging test (more than 10% for CT and MRI), our patients wait less time for scans and for their reports than was the case in 2021/22.
PenRAD continues to work collaboratively with the network trusts to increase the imaging workforce and improve our digital alignment to enable collaborative working, which is and will continue to be essential for all networks.
NHS England has provided central funding for imaging networks, however from April 2026 networks are expected to be funded self-sustainably. We are fortunate in PenRAD having been one of the few networks to be able to introduce shared insourced reporting, which makes significant savings for all the trusts. We have also been fortunate in receiving significant funding for digital, AI, workforce and other projects. You can read more about these projects in this newsletter.
Nonetheless, there will still be a shortfall for funding for the network to continue these activities. Trusts have been well-briefed on this and will consider how to maintain the network funding later on in the autumn.
Our third annual event is planned for 6th November this year, detailing the network's achievements and future strategy in the morning and then a more focused session targeted at insourced reporting and a first network REALM session in the afternoon. The details are below if you would like to join us.
As always, many thanks to all of you who support PenRAD.
How the network is performing
Thank you to everyone across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who supports imaging services in the peninsula. With your help, we have made good progress as a network in delivering projects, joined-up procurement, and creating savings for all four trusts.
Our infographic above captures some of these highlights and you can read more details on the website.
Annual meeting and SIRP learning event and celebration
Thursday 6th November, Roadford Lake, Lifton, Devon
A reminder to please RSVP if you've received an invitation to our annual event, as numbers are limited and we want to maximise the available places.
The day will be split into two parts:
- Morning, 9am-2pm: PenRAD annual meeting
- Afternoon, 1-5pm: Shared Insourced Reporting Programme (SIRP) learning event and celebration
We will cover the Peninsula Imaging Network's progress in its mission to combine our expertise and improve diagnosis across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This event will be an opportunity to help shape the network's continuing development, and how we improve services for patients and address system challenges.
The event is open to people working in imaging in the peninsula. If you would like to attend, please email us to express an interest.
Network digital management of non-medical referrers
PenRAD has been successful in securing £300k from NHS England to deliver a single digital network solution for managing non-medical referrers (NMRs) in the peninsula.
The imaging service management of NMRs is a national challenge. PenRAD's project aims to:
- Standardise processes and NMR scopes of practice
- Create NMR training materials
- Develop a digital solution and hosting platform
The project will run until March 2026, with benefits expected to include the development of consistent training requirements and processes, improving understanding of ionising radiation regulations and magnetic safety requirements, and removing delays for aspiring NMRs.
By harnessing a wider range of clinical colleagues' knowledge and expertise, it's hoped the project will reduce pressure on acute hospitals and improve the quality of imaging referrals. This may provide a blueprint that can be adopted by other imaging networks or regions in future.
Showcasing careers in clinical imaging
We're getting ready for another series of careers events across the peninsula, following the success of our outreach programme last year. Please help to spread the word.
The next 'Discover Diagnostics' events will be:
- 20 September 2025: SWITA, Plymouth - Morning session / Afternoon session
- 11 October 2025, 9am-12.30pm: Medical Education Centre, North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple – details here
- 22 November 2025: Horizon Centre, Torbay - Morning session / Afternoon session
- 24 January 2026: University of Exeter - Morning session / Afternoon session
- 28 February: Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro (details tbc)
These events are held on Saturdays. Click the links for more details and to book a place.
Shared Insourced Reporting
The Shared Insourced Reporting Programme (SIRP) continues to expand, with 57 reporters now signed up.
We’re pleased that in its first year, so many Radiologists have joined the scheme and we have received plenty of helpful feedback. We are also seeing the mutual benefits from working across trusts, speeding up diagnosis and care for patients.
SIRP is managed on behalf of the four trusts in the Devon and Cornwall peninsula by the PenRAD Imaging Network. Its aim is to reduce the use of outsourcing companies, by using Radiologists already working in the region to carry out additional work, that is in common to all trusts and allows for cross-site reporting. This means that the programme can offer Radiologists favourable rates too.
Next steps for the programme include working on opening up the scheme to Reporting Radiographers, looking at how we can facilitate off-payroll payment mechanisms and how we can manage retirees reporting for the programme.
‘I have been reporting for SIRP for a few months now. The system is working very well, both for the insourced reporting of local scans and those from other sites across the peninsula.’
‘The reporting tariffs seem very competitive compared to outsourcing companies and I would much rather report my own hospital’s (and in the future the peninsula’s) backlog, rather than scans from a hospital hundreds of miles away. It seems a win/win, both for the reporter and the patients – give it a try!’
Workforce updates
Workforce dashboard
The development of the interactive PenRAD-wide diagnostic imaging workforce dashboard continues. This will enable immediate access to workforce data for project and workforce planning by departments and trusts as well as the network.
Thank you to all Imaging Service Managers and Modality Leads who have contributed to the data collection so far. We will be validating the data at the end of quarter 2 (in October) and aim to provide the dashboard to operational teams in quarter 3 for refinement ahead of year-end and next year's national imaging data collection (NIDC).
Imaging support worker network
Imaging support workers across our trusts are invited to join the new PenRAD Imaging Support Worker Network. National reviews, including the Cavendish and GIRFT reports, have highlighted that support staff often feel undervalued and underutilised.
This local initiative complements the Society of Radiographers’ Support Worker Resource Hub, reflecting a shared commitment to recognising and developing the support workforce.
Informal meetings are being held monthly to ensure that peninsula imaging support workers have a voice in a safe space, to better understand their workforce challenges, career aspirations and development requirements.
PenRAD is working in partnership with the SW Imaging Training Academy (SWITA) to develop a bespoke continuous professional development (CPD) programme for imaging support workers, with a CPD day being planned at the academy in Plymouth for March 2026.
If you are an imaging support worker and would like to join the network, or would be interested in attending CPD events, please contact Charlotte, PenRAD Workforce Project Manager or complete the survey now to join:
Artificial intelligence update
AI continues to be a popular topic of discussion. Claire Higdon from the Network has presented at this year's UKIO conference (see below), sharing the learning so far from the Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Fund deployment of AI software for CT lung nodule detection analysis.
Recent NICE guidance on the use of bone fracture detection software has generated a lot of interest, resulting in many suppliers approaching clinicians. PenRAD convenes a regular AI sub-group, which plans to hold a Dragons Den style event in order to review the current market leading solutions, prior to putting together a business case.
The network is hopeful that further funding from NHS England may be forthcoming from 2026 and therefore is looking at where trusts across the network could benefit from additional AI support. Top of the shopping list could be the procurement of an AI platform which would support the testing of solutions prior to procurement. This is currently being discussed with the University of Exeter as a joint project.
Network shares good practice at UKIO
The PenRAD team were well-represented at this year's UK Imaging & Oncology conference in Liverpool in June. Strategic Planning Consultant Claire Higdon shared her reflections on how artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to support the CT lung cancer pathway, with a two-year ‘test drive’ funded by NHS England through the AI Diagnostic Fund.
Meanwhile PenRAD Clinical Director, Andrew Edwards, and Caroline Dunphy, Shared Insourced Reporting Programme Lead, shared their experience of setting up SIRP and the next steps in its development.
Pictured below (left to right) are Claire, Andrew and Caroline on stage.
Digital feedback
'Just wanted to follow up on this and say thanks for your work. I was on nights last week and the Exeter - Derriford link is now one of the fastest connections allowing me to stay in local PACS, a great efficiency improvement. My colleagues are all very grateful and I'm sure the clinicians and patients appreciated the more timely reports!'
Dr Cameron Bullock, Radiology, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
PenRAD has worked with ICT colleagues to improve the speed of the connection between Exeter and Plymouth. This has made a positive difference for the Peninsula Radiology On-Call (PROC) service transferring scans between trust sites within their local Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS).
Meet the team
Liam Charlton, Senior Data Analyst, PenRAD Imaging Network
Hi, I’m Liam. I work as a Senior Data Analyst within PenRAD, supporting reporting and data quality across CRIS and related systems. My role involves building SQL queries, developing dashboards in Power BI and Excel, and helping teams access clear and accurate information to support service planning and delivery. I’ve worked for the NHS for 15 years, primarily with diagnostic imaging data.
Outside of work, some of my hobbies are hiking and camping, listening to rock music, gaming, and spending time with my wife Amy and our very senior cat, Mr. Bubs.
Data update
| Total demand | Total activity | |
|---|---|---|
 +5% |
+5% |
|
| 12 months to date | 1,730,632 | 1,546,632 |
| Previous 12 months | 1,649,796 | 1,472,918 |
The selected data above is for all four PenRAD trusts in the year to date (end June 2025). As of last month, both demand and activity are up 5% compared to the previous year.
Outpatient and GP data
| Urgency | July-June 2024 | July-June 2025 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 82.59% | 85.11% | +2.5% |
| Urgent (6-week target) | 87.43% | 89.79% | +2.4% |
| Routine (6-week target) | 78.38% | 77.66% | -0.7% |
| Urgency | July-June 2024 | July-June 2025 | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-week wait (2-week target) | 78.86% | 80.47% | +1.61% |
| Urgent (5-day target) | 83.44% | 83.44% | 0.0% |
| Routine (14-day target) | 97.23% | 97.30% | +0.1% |
Reporting times are monitored for adherence to NHS England's diagnostic imaging reporting turnaround times released in August 2023. It is generally assumed that these targets will be shortened in the near future, hence we apply a routine target of two rather than four weeks.
The PenRAD BI dashboard is now live, providing the network with access to monthly data for requests, activity, and reporting. Access to the BI report can be requested here. Users can also access the mobile-friendly version of the report using the Power BI app on Android/iOS.
Don't forget...
And finally, coming up are two key awareness days we hope you will be marking in your trust too:
- Tuesday 14 October: Allied Health Professions (AHP) day
- Saturday 8 November: World Radiography Day, with the theme 'Empowering Healthcare through Imaging Excellence'.
