New Picture Archiving and Communications System improves patient experience

The Trust’s new Picture Archiving and Communications System, Sectra PACS, used to view radiology images was officially launched on Saturday 19 August 2023.

This new central system will mean clinicians at the Trust along with those at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust can view images regardless of where they were taken.

Importantly for our patients, this will mean fewer scans, less exposure to radiation and a better, more improved patient experience.

The Trust will also benefit from time and money savings from the current requirement to transfer images through the image exchange portal between Trusts, much faster delivery of images, images can be sent to sub-specialists and individual tailored worklists.

In addition, later this year, clinicians will be able to report directly into Sectra PACS using voice recognition.

Jayne Black, Chief Executive, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Trust’s vision is to continually improve our services and provide the best of care to our patients in Medway and Swale.

“I know colleagues have worked hard in collaboration over the last few months to make sure the new system could be launched smoothly, to reduce barriers to our patients.

“With plans to also integrate the system with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in the future, I know this will make a big difference to putting our patients first and working together as partners across the county.”