NHS PET-CT Imaging - Public Consultation

[BJC]

Dear Forum

I'd like to make you aware of a public consultation currently open from NHS England regarding the provision of PET/CT imaging services.

Of particular importance for patients/relatives is questions 5:

"What characteristics do you consider important for patients when accessing PET-CT services, e.g. quality of the service, quality of the outcome, travel distance, accessibility by public transport, car parking, hours/times the service is available?"

Currently your nearest scanner is at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill.https://www.kch.nhs.uk/service/cancer/tests-and-investigations/pet-scan

One thing you may want to consider is that if you were an inpatient at King's, needing an urgent scan, is being transported to another hospital satisfactory?

Disclosure: I work at King's.

Thanks, Ben.

Full details below.

https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/pet-ct-services/consult_view

PET-CT services: design of phase 2 procurement process

Overview

PET-CT, or positron emission tomography-computerised tomography, is used to produce detailed three-dimensional images of the inside of the body. An advantage of a PET-CT scan is that it can show how well certain parts of your body are working, rather than just showing what it looks like. PET-CT is particularly helpful for investigating confirmed cases of cancer, but is used in other conditions as well.

In 2014, NHS England carried out a procurement process for around 50% of PET-CT activity, known as PET-CT phase 1. The National PET-CT contract replaced two contracts, PET-CT North and South, which were running out. NHS England now intends to carry out a phase 2 procurement process for PET-CT activity not included in phase 1.

The aim is to procure services that improve patient experience and access to care, achieve the best clinical outcomes for patients, ensure an equitable service across the country and that all providers work to a consistent service specification, ensure adequate PET-CT provision in the future and provide best value for money.

The proposed process will seek bids from providers to deliver services in 9 different lots that are geographically defined ? though it is possible for there to be multiple PET-CT sites within each lot. In addition, the proposal includes a maximum single price for scans, and a limit on the number of lots any one bidder can be awarded to maintain plurality of supply.

This does mean that the location of PET-CT services could potentially change from where they are currently provided. However, until the procurement process is more advanced, we will not have sight of proposed solutions, and therefore any proposed changes to service location or the potential impact for patients. At that later point, any potential change in location of PET-CT services may be the subject of public consultation.

NHS England is now to conduct a 30 day period of engagement with patients, public, providers and other interested parties to test the proposals prior to beginning the procurement. We are also seeking views on potential mitigation for any change in location of PET-CT services that could be built into the service requirements for bids.

http://www3.gehealthcare.com/~/media/images/product/product-categories/pet-ct/discovery-pet-ct-710/discovery_pet_ct_710_spolight3.jpg

http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/PublishingImages/T-Z/PETCT-1.jpg

[goosey-goosey]

As someone whose partner recently made much use of the imaging services at King's, I was happy to complete the survey. I encourage anyone with an opinion about our local hospital to do likewise. It's actually a rather complex subject that I didn't have time to research; what I did was answer most questions "Unsure" and pasted the following into each text box: "I have no idea. What I want is for full imaging services to remain at King's College Hospital at their current levels." Might help..

[BJC]

Thanks G-G.

I agree re: complexity. A set of questions should have been tailored to each stakeholder group - or put the patient/public question first.

My fear is only very senior members of staff and private sector interests will contribute.

[PennyDreadful]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. It's so important that patients are involved in these consultations, otherwise bureaucrats and vested interests are just talking to each other in a closed loop! I've completed the survey (despite its jargon-tastic appearance). While not referring directly to Kings, I just kept making points like how existing provision needs to be taken into account because it's both financially and environmentally wasteful not to do this. And it being costly and risky to transport ill patients around. And so on.