Standards for providing a 24-hour interventional radiology service [QSI Ref: IR-802]

Assessment of a department's provision of all aspects of a 24-hour interventional radiology (IR) service.

The demand for all types of radiological imaging and intervention on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis has increased significantly in recent years. The term ‘24 hour radiological imaging services’ applies equally to elective and acute services.Interventional techniques are now at the forefront of management of many life-threatening emergencies. Every acute trust has a duty to ensure that there are formal arrangements to secure provision of elective and emergency IR services.1,2,3

The standard: 

1. Is the IR service formally available 24 hours a day, every day of the year?

2. Is the service formally supported by an on-call rota for a named individual for each of the following groups: consultant radiologist, radiographer, IR nurse, anaesthetist when appropriate?

3. Is diagnostic imaging support such as CT formally available 24 hours a day, every day of the year?

4. Are facilities and consumables available for each of the services listed?

Vascular: arterial diagnosis, arterial intervention and venous intervention.

Non-vascular: general, urological and biliary.

5. If the IR service (part/complete) becomes unavailable for whatever reason is a clear written, agreed substitute patient pathway in place?

6. Is there an IR on-call rota in place with substantive staff and a minimum 1 in 6 frequency?

7 Where the provided IR service is not routinely available 24/7 is a written and agreed pathway in place for patient transfer to another trust?

8 Do IR radiologists participate in relevant continuing professional development (CPD) activity?

9 Are locally agreed protocols in place covering referral for emergency intervention?

Target: 

100% compliance in all areas

Indicators: 

Affirmative answer to each question

Data items to be collected: 

Questionnaire to be completed for each aspect of the service , that is: arterial diagnosis, arterial intervention, venous intervention, general, urological, biliary

Suggested number: 

Questionnaire to be completed for each aspect of the service.

Any deficiency in service provision should be brought to the attention of trust management and interventional radiological colleagues and appropriate discussions initiated to allow compliance with guidance and safe provision of the IR service.

Interventional imaging lead - 4 hours to complete questionnaire and write up report and checklist for safe IR provision

Questionnaire is accessible from Reference 1, Appendix 3: https://www.rcr.ac.uk/system/files/publication/field_publication_files/bfcr171_24hr_ir.pdf

1. The Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for providing a 24-hour interventional radiology service. 2017 https://www.rcr.ac.uk/system/files/publication/field_publication_files/bfcr171_24hr_ir.pdf 

2. The Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for providing a seven-day acute care diagnostic radiology service. https://www.rcr.ac.uk/system/files/publication/field_publication_files/bfcr1514_seven-day_acute.pdf

3. The Royal College of Radiologists. Guidelines for nursing care in interventional radiology: The roles of the registered nurse and nursing support. 2014 

   https://www.rcr.ac.uk/system/files/publication/field_publication_files/BFCR%2814%297_Guidelines_nursing_interventional_radiology.pdf

K A Duncan and updated by H Bailey 2017