Radiology

1.151 Radiology uses imaging techniques (such as x-rays) to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases and injuries identified within the body. Diagnostic radiology services help make a diagnosis of a disease or condition. In Hywel Dda, emergency diagnostic radiology is provided 24/7; and planned diagnostic radiology is currently provided five days a week, during the daytime only. Interventional radiology services are more complex diagnostic procedures, including biopsies, and are provided for hospital inpatients or for planned day cases, currently five days a week during the daytime only.  

1.152 Radiology has seen a large rise in activity across all sites. At the same time, staff shortages are stopping the Health Board from providing some services for longer hours. There are also difficulties maintaining up-to-date equipment across all sites. Bringing some radiology services together on fewer sites, which is proposed in all proposed options, would allow Hywel Dda to see more patients and would address some staff shortages, but there is potential impact on where staff work from. None of the options would fully address hiring challenges for interventional radiology roles. 

1.153 Hywel Dda outlined four different options for how radiology services could be delivered. All options propose the removal of X-ray services at Llandovery and South Pembrokeshire Hospitals, so patients living closer to these hospitals would have further to travel for their x-rays than they do now. X-ray services would stay at Cardigan Integrated Care Centre and Tenby Hospital in all proposed options. In all proposed options for radiology, emergency diagnostic radiology would be maintained 24/7 at all four main hospitals. 

Table 7: Consultation options – radiology