Improving access to CT scans for faster, safer patient care

RPIW team photo in front of a white wall

CT scans are an important part of many patients’ treatment journeys, helping clinicians diagnose problems quickly and decide on the next steps in care.

While it was initially thought that scanning capacity might be an issue to causing delays within patient flow, teams recognised that delays were often happening at different points in the process, not during the scan itself.

To better understand where delays were occurring, staff at Pinderfields Hospital took part in a focused improvement review. Colleagues from Radiology (CT), the Emergency Department, affected wards, the portering services and the Improving Together team worked together to look at the full CT journey. From when a scan is requested to when it is completed.

By following 47 patient journeys, the team found that CT scans were being carried out quickly and efficiently once patients arrived. However, delays often happened beforehand. Common issues included:

Scan requests taking longer than necessary to be reviewed and approved
Patients arriving who were not yet ready, leading to unnecessary journeys
Predictable busy periods during the day causing avoidable hold-ups

Working together, teams tested a series of simple, practical improvements to help patients move through the process more smoothly:

Quicker review of scan requests
Instead of reviewing scan requests in large batches, CT staff now review them as they arrive. This allows patients to be prepared sooner and reduces waiting times.
A smoother start to the day
Each morning, one patient is fully prepared in advance to be the first CT scan of the day. This helps avoid delays early on and keeps the day running more smoothly.
Better coordination with portering teams
CT staff and porters now confirm that patients are fully ready before collection, reducing wasted journeys and delays.
A simple readiness checklist on wards
Wards now use a checklist to make sure everything is in place before a patient goes for a scan, reducing the number of patients needing to return because something was missing.
Final checks before transport
Staff confirm that scan requests have been approved before arranging transport, preventing delays on arrival at the CT department.

These small changes have led to significant improvements:

Waiting times for inpatient CT scans reduced by 80%
Emergency Department CT times improved
Unexpected arrivals to CT reduced to zero
All scans now start on time
Better use of CT scanners and staff time
Patients consistently arrive fully prepared for their scans

Together, these improvements mean faster and more reliable access to CT scans, quicker diagnoses and smoother care journeys. They also help staff spend more time focusing on patient care and less time managing delays.