NHS Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent ICB - Imaging Services (MRI)

Description

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB (SSOTICB) and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT) require a local, direct access MRI service to be provided. The MRI environment must support ease of access for patients with mobility difficulties and to transfer with or without assistance to the scanner bed. The care pathway to be commissioned shall incorporate the provision of a MRI service that meets demand flows in line with performance targets, inclusive of all running costs, the production of diagnostic investigation reports and images and so reporting and administration services must be included within the service provided. Service Aims include: • To ensure patients receive the right test at the right time and in the most clinically appropriate local setting. • To aid early diagnostics and treatments avoid the need for unnecessary further referral(s). • To ensure diagnostic testing is integrated across pathways of care, that the report and images follow the patient and that there is no unnecessary duplication of investigation. • To enable patients and referring clinicians to access a choice of provision according to patient choice, clinical need and relevant care pathway. • To ensure diagnostic tests are appropriate, necessary, clinically correct, of high quality, with timely access and reporting. • To ensure where a diagnostic study identifies possible cancer or a non-cancer serious and/or unexpected pathology, that there is a clear pathway for this group of patients and that the referrer is made aware of the potential diagnosis in line with best practice standards. • To provide an efficient and cost-effective imaging service that meets the service requirements of the commissioner(s) and has flexibility to increase/decrease capacity as reasonably required. The notice has been issued subject to the Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regulations 2023 for the Procurement of Healthcare Services. The ICB has not made any decisions with regards to which PSR process to follow in accordance with PSR at this time and is looking for responses that may guide their decision making in this regard for the future.