Failure to provide timely access to clinically indicated CT scanning
First to latest report 15 Oct 2013 — 17 Feb 2025
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.
Department of Health and Social Care4
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence3
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust3
Care Quality Commission2
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust2
NHS England2
Royal London Hospital2
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust2
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust2
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust2
Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Barts Health NHS Trust1
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust1
Greater Manchester1
Homerton University Hospital1
NHS trust18
Executive non-departmental public body5
Ministerial department4
Healthcare site3
Health and social care service regulator2
Multi-service care provider2
Clinical commissioning group1
Domiciliary care provider1
Health professional body1
Local health board1
Type not available1
Reports and published responses 26 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Delays in obtaining urgent CT scans
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS 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.3
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Revise the head-injury guideline to align with NICE guidance and add head-and-neck imaging prompts to the proforma.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Require all clinicians to use the head-injury proforma for hospital falls and Emergency Department presentations.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Monitor implementation of the approved head-injury guideline, including imaging, observation duration, specialist referrals and follow-through of requested actions.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to provide timely CT scanning after falls in elderly patients taking blood-thinning medications
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
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
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Log the concerns with the NICE guideline surveillance team for consideration in ongoing surveillance.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Take the issues into account when the relevant guideline areas are next reviewed.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Existing VTE and head-injury guidelines appropriately reflect available evidence and do not require amendment at this time.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure guideline-compliant CT scanning for patients with head injuries, especially those taking anti-coagulant medication, during on-site CT scanner service issues
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
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Implement a CT scanner downtime escalation and dissemination process, supported by senior managers on call, out-of-hours protocol reminders, and posters in relevant clinical areas.
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Provide training on NICE guidelines for hospital-acquired head injuries and require all new starters to complete it during Trust induction.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Unavailability of timely CT angiogram slots
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
The CT angiogram delay did not reflect an acute clinical risk or an appointment shortage; urgent cases could be expedited.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
West Sussex
Concerns raised1
Lack of out-of-hours radiology and on-site CT diagnostic capacity
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Care Quality Commission
Department of Health and Social Care
Queen Victoria Hospital 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
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Review options for providing CT scanning on site at QVH.
Care Quality Commission
Monitor the trust’s progress on its business case for an on-site CT scanner through ongoing engagement.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
QVH disputes that its lack of on-site specialists prevents access to specialist opinion, because agreements with BSUH provide specialist advice and imaging.
Disputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Department of Health and Social Care
NHS Improvement, NHS England, and the Care Quality Commission, working with the Trust and commissioners, were responsible for ensuring appropriate action.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester North
Concerns raised1
Lack of urgent direct access to CT scanning for primary care clinicians
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Black Country
Concerns raised1
Failure to perform CT head scans after significant facial and head bruising
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS 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
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Recheck head-injury and inpatient-falls policies against NICE and NPSA standards.
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Install the new electronic patient record to provide decision support and alerts reinforcing inpatient-falls and head-injury standards.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Existing head-injury and inpatient-falls policies meet NICE and NPSA standards and remain suitable for staff use.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Cumbria
Concerns raised1
Delays in timely radiologist review and reporting of diagnostic X-rays and CT scans
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay 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.6
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Appoint three radiologists to increase reporting capacity.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Continue recruitment, including international recruitment, to develop reporting capacity.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Offer additional programmed activities and payment to consultants reporting work beyond contracted hours.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Provide ad hoc reporting support through eight honorary contracts with external radiologists.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Explore home reporting with the new PACS to improve recruitment and retention opportunities.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Roll out voice recognition technology across radiology staff to speed report turnaround.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
Insufficient radiology reporting capacity prevents all imaging studies from being reported promptly, reflecting a wider national radiologist shortage.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
The existing scope of referrer evaluation and its standard operating procedure are considered reasonable and safe, so wider expansion is not preferred.
Existing arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
A prioritisation flow diagram is not being constructed because clinical complexity across modalities does not permit reliable simplification.
Unable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Department of Health and Social Care
Responsibility for staffing levels and skill mix rests with individual NHS Trust boards, considering local factors and safe-care requirements.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Department of Health and Social Care
Urgent and emergency care networks are responsible for developing clinical pathways, designating services and monitoring performance and access.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to routinely perform CT scans in circumstances where impacted or undisplaced fractures may be present
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Delays and restricted access in obtaining urgent CT scans
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals 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
Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Provide revised out-of-hours CT-requesting guidance in full and abbreviated forms on the intranet and through junior-doctor induction.
Ashford and St Peter'S Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Remove routine Medica-radiologist discussion or direct consultant involvement for specified urgent CT pathways, while retaining radiologist discussion for other out-of-hours scans.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.