An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London

Abstract Background The National Healthcare Service (NHS) radiology service delivery in London is representative of the current pressures and challenges faced in England of Musculoskeletal (MSK) X-ray reporting workforce shortages, and national turnaround time (TATs) targets. The implementation proj...

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Main Authors: Paul Lockwood, Christopher Burton, Theresa Shaw, Nicholas Woznitza, Emma Compton, Heather Groombridge, Natasha Hayes, Uday Mane, Anna O’Brien, Stephanie Patterson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12356-x
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author Paul Lockwood
Christopher Burton
Theresa Shaw
Nicholas Woznitza
Emma Compton
Heather Groombridge
Natasha Hayes
Uday Mane
Anna O’Brien
Stephanie Patterson
author_facet Paul Lockwood
Christopher Burton
Theresa Shaw
Nicholas Woznitza
Emma Compton
Heather Groombridge
Natasha Hayes
Uday Mane
Anna O’Brien
Stephanie Patterson
author_sort Paul Lockwood
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The National Healthcare Service (NHS) radiology service delivery in London is representative of the current pressures and challenges faced in England of Musculoskeletal (MSK) X-ray reporting workforce shortages, and national turnaround time (TATs) targets. The implementation project evaluated facilitation as a strategy to achieve the NHS England 50% target for all MSK X-rays to be reported by radiographers. Methods The project was an eight-month multi-centre (n = 5 London NHS Trusts) study applying the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework with embedded mixed-methods evaluation. Initial observational data using the Context Assessment Index (CAI) tool and the Workplace Culture Critical Analysis Tool (WCCAT) set the implementation interventions which comprised external facilitation, to support internal facilitators action learning activities. Evaluation data comprised monthly reporting performance, systems mapping, interviews. Results System mapping allowed a perspective beyond the characteristics of the NHS Trusts involved (small single site hospitals to large multi-sites hospitals) of mixed clinical duties, scope of practice, reporting session allocation, and equipment used. CAI scores for workplace culture demonstrated $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 73.7% (SD 6.8; 95%CI 8.49), leadership scored $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 69.3% (SD 7.3; 95% CI 9.17), and evaluation scored $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 75.5% (SD 6.9; 95% CI 98.63). WCCAT observations provided themes for facilitation focusing on remote reporting, insourcing backlogs, prioritising worklists to reduce breaching TATs, reporting metrics, and reducing auto reporting. The combined reporting of MSK X-rays by London radiographers during this study achieved $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 53.7%. Conclusion This study had an innovative approach using an implementation facilitation framework to improve service delivery. The clinical workplace context in which MSK X-ray reporting by radiographers occurs was key to implementing change. The complexities of sustaining and upscaling MSK X-ray reporting by radiographers to meet the NHS England target of 50% are varied and require local champions to facilitate and drive change at organisational levels. It is recommended that there are dedicated ‘resources’ to sustain implementations with a community of practice for support. Workplace leadership and stakeholder networks are needed to sustain improved working practices and embrace regular evaluation and monitoring of service delivery performance.
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spelling doaj-art-95cc3d93acea43a2b717c1ed665647842025-08-20T02:48:11ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-02-0125111910.1186/s12913-025-12356-xAn implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across LondonPaul Lockwood0Christopher Burton1Theresa Shaw2Nicholas Woznitza3Emma Compton4Heather Groombridge5Natasha Hayes6Uday Mane7Anna O’Brien8Stephanie Patterson9School of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church UniversitySchool of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church UniversitySchool of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church UniversitySchool of Allied Health Professions, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church UniversityRadiology Department, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas’ HospitalRadiology Department, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University College HospitalRadiology Department, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Homerton HospitalRadiology Department, Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustRadiology Department, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College HospitalRadiology Department, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College HospitalAbstract Background The National Healthcare Service (NHS) radiology service delivery in London is representative of the current pressures and challenges faced in England of Musculoskeletal (MSK) X-ray reporting workforce shortages, and national turnaround time (TATs) targets. The implementation project evaluated facilitation as a strategy to achieve the NHS England 50% target for all MSK X-rays to be reported by radiographers. Methods The project was an eight-month multi-centre (n = 5 London NHS Trusts) study applying the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework with embedded mixed-methods evaluation. Initial observational data using the Context Assessment Index (CAI) tool and the Workplace Culture Critical Analysis Tool (WCCAT) set the implementation interventions which comprised external facilitation, to support internal facilitators action learning activities. Evaluation data comprised monthly reporting performance, systems mapping, interviews. Results System mapping allowed a perspective beyond the characteristics of the NHS Trusts involved (small single site hospitals to large multi-sites hospitals) of mixed clinical duties, scope of practice, reporting session allocation, and equipment used. CAI scores for workplace culture demonstrated $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 73.7% (SD 6.8; 95%CI 8.49), leadership scored $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 69.3% (SD 7.3; 95% CI 9.17), and evaluation scored $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 75.5% (SD 6.9; 95% CI 98.63). WCCAT observations provided themes for facilitation focusing on remote reporting, insourcing backlogs, prioritising worklists to reduce breaching TATs, reporting metrics, and reducing auto reporting. The combined reporting of MSK X-rays by London radiographers during this study achieved $$\overline{x}$$ x ¯ = 53.7%. Conclusion This study had an innovative approach using an implementation facilitation framework to improve service delivery. The clinical workplace context in which MSK X-ray reporting by radiographers occurs was key to implementing change. The complexities of sustaining and upscaling MSK X-ray reporting by radiographers to meet the NHS England target of 50% are varied and require local champions to facilitate and drive change at organisational levels. It is recommended that there are dedicated ‘resources’ to sustain implementations with a community of practice for support. Workplace leadership and stakeholder networks are needed to sustain improved working practices and embrace regular evaluation and monitoring of service delivery performance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12356-xReporting radiographers; musculoskeletal; X-raysImplementation facilitation
spellingShingle Paul Lockwood
Christopher Burton
Theresa Shaw
Nicholas Woznitza
Emma Compton
Heather Groombridge
Natasha Hayes
Uday Mane
Anna O’Brien
Stephanie Patterson
An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
BMC Health Services Research
Reporting radiographers; musculoskeletal; X-rays
Implementation facilitation
title An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
title_full An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
title_fullStr An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
title_full_unstemmed An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
title_short An implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal X-ray reporting by radiographers across London
title_sort implementation facilitation intervention to improve the musculoskeletal x ray reporting by radiographers across london
topic Reporting radiographers; musculoskeletal; X-rays
Implementation facilitation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12356-x
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