First trust achieves rapid PACS go-live in Greater Manchester’s imaging initiative

A new region-wide approach to analysing x-rays, MRI and CT scans, mammography and other diagnostic images is starting to take shape, as The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust becomes the first of eight trusts across Greater Manchester to deploy medical imaging technology from Sectra.

Healthcare professionals began using the enterprise imaging solution shortly after Greater Manchester Provider Federation Board signed a contract with Sectra in October 2020.

The new PACS replaced ageing IT and is already delivering benefits to staff, such as the ability to view and report on detailed images remotely, including from home. In the case of surgical scenarios, 3D orthopaedic tools will allow staff to virtually reconstruct joints prior to procedures. The system is also expected to transform how multidisciplinary teams function.

Greater Manchester’s PACS implementation lead Elaine Quick said: “I am really impressed with how teams across the trust have worked with our partner Sectra to get this in place quickly, while simultaneously dealing with the challenges presented by COVID-19 and winter pressures in the NHS.

“This first go-live is the start of the main journey. We will be able to maximise how our staff work across different trusts and we will be able to connect 15 years’ worth of rich data that is currently isolated in individual trusts.”

Once live and rolled out in more hospitals, clinical staff will be able to instantly access patient images captured at any of the participating NHS trusts in the region. This will support healthcare professionals making decisions at the point of care and help staff carrying out reports used to inform diagnoses.

Picture: Sectra’s PACS will be rolled out to seven more trusts in the Greater Manchester region.

Published on page 9 of the February 2021 issue of RAD Magazine.