- The South West London Acute Provider Collaborative (SWL APC) diagnostics programme was established with the aim of leading the renewal and recovery of diagnostic services across South West London and to ensure the growing demand for diagnostic services could be met.
- A comprehensive collaborative strategy was implemented across diagnostic modalities (imaging, echocardiography, and endoscopy) to address backlog challenges and included improving productivity and utilisation, waiting list validation and collaborative working.
- The roll-out and implementation of the Community Diagnostic Centres programme has been successful in significantly increasing diagnostic capacity across South West London.
- All four acute trusts have been supported to secure additional capital funding, which has enabled teams to procure additional equipment to support service delivery.
- The South West London Imaging Network, which is a key component of the diagnostics programme, has been striving to enhance productivity across imaging services through the implementation of new technologies and upgrading of equipment. This has resulted in the delivery of approximately 6000 additional MRI scans (April 23-October 24) and 6287 x-ray tests (April 24-December 24).
- The programme, in partnership with the acute trusts, has been seeking to acquire better value on a range of external contracts. This includes image acquisition contracts for relocatable scanners and image reporting outsourcing contracts. Through the collaborative effort this has resulted in a cost saving of approximately £0.8m in 24/25, and £1.5m annually
- The collaborative has initiated a digital transformation programme to improve connectivity across the four acute trusts and has implemented a single Radiology Information System (RIS) which enables the teams to monitor workloads and support the workforce.
- Dedicated diagnostic programme resource, together with a robust programme and governance structure, allows collaborative working to be supported across the South West London system.
- The programme structure includes executive senior responsible officer (SRO) leadership, a dedicated programme director, provider and integrated care board (ICB) stakeholders and formalised clinical leads across both the programme and diagnostic modalities. Strong relationships and effective matrix working across trusts and system partners, including operational and clinical leads, has enabled challenges to be navigated together to enhance service delivery, improve clinical outcomes and the patient experience.