Recurring concern
Failure to provide timely access to clinically indicated CT scanning
- Reports that mention this concern
- 26
- Times this concern has been raised
- 29
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 25
What this concern includes
Includes failures of the CT-scanning access and provision process that delay, prevent or leave unresolved clinically indicated CT imaging, including direct referral access, service availability, out-of-hours or weekend provision, capacity, scheduling, authorisation and completion across clinical settings.
What is not included
- Excludes failures limited to interpretation, review or clinical action after CT images have been made available, unless access or completion is also deficient.
- Excludes generic diagnostic-imaging, staffing, equipment or commissioning deficiencies that are not specifically tied to access to or provision of CT scanning.
- Excludes other imaging modalities, including MRI, ultrasound and plain radiography, unless the assertion specifically concerns CT scanning.
- Excludes failures limited to the content of a named CT request pathway where CT access or completion is not itself the unsafe condition.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 26 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Delays in CT scans where traumatic injury is suspected
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Review NICE guidance for emergency-department patients after falls to identify improvements to inpatient-fall imaging timeliness and reporting.
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Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Require overnight reporting of inpatient falls to the bed and site management team, with escalation when medical review is not completed within one hour.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in carrying out and reporting CT scans due to insufficient suitably qualified radiology staff
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Department of Health and Social Care
- NHS England
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
-
Department of Health and Social Care
NHSE and local integrated care bodies are responsible for addressing the concerns about treatment at Wythenshawe Hospital.
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NHS England
Greater Manchester Integrated Care provides the relevant services, while its Integrated Care Board decides commissioned health services.
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Concerns raised1
Delays in urgently requested CT head imaging
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Delays in CTA being performed
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Insufficient access to CT scanning for suspected aortic dissection
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system to fast track CT scans for patients on warfarin with suspected head injury
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Use the updated Emergency Department adult head injury pathway to guide assessment, CT scanning, neurosurgical referral and clinical documentation.
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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Embed the Clinical Decision Support Tool in the Emergency Department Electronic Patient Record to guide adult head injury management and CT requirements.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
The CT scan reporting delay was one hour beyond target but did not appear to have significantly contributed to the adverse outcome.
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Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
The local head injury pathway and electronic decision-support tool provide existing guidance for timely CT scanning and neurosurgical referral.
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Concerns raised2
Lack of an overnight consultant authorisation pathway for next-day CT scans
Failure to perform indicated CT head scans
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to carry out trauma series CT scans after high-energy injury
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Develop a fractured-scapula management protocol advising cervical-spine and chest X-rays and a lower threshold for clinically indicated CT scanning.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
There was no clear clinical indication for a full trauma CT scan in this case.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to undertake CT brain/head scans after falls with head impact in patients taking anticoagulant medication
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to obtain an ordered CT scan
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026