The Suffolk and North East Essex Provider Acute and Community Collaborative have driven a major project to modernise medical imaging across healthcare providers, specifically West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Ipswich Hospital, which is part of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
The Agfa XERO XEN project was initially set up in 2020 to streamline imaging access and enhance radiological workflows to support clinicians, radiologists, and referring physicians by allowing quick, secure access to imaging data. Focusing on this project was essential to the providers as it addressed critical points in healthcare delivery, such as reducing wait times, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and improving patient outcomes.
Action taken
The project required close collaboration between the IT, radiology, and administration teams of both hospitals, as single-hospital actions would not have been enough to achieve the project's goals. The leadership commitment of both hospitals to improving radiology services saw the benefits of this unified approach realised.
The project received dedicated funding and resources, allowing for the infrastructure upgrades and software licensing needed to support Agfa XERO XEN. The technology vendor's support in providing expertise and custom solutions facilitated a seamless integration with existing systems.
Outcomes and impact
The introduction of Agfa XERO XEN has had measurable positive effects on both patient care and provider efficiency. Clinicians now have instant access to imaging data from both hospitals, reducing diagnostic delays and accelerating treatment plans, and patients benefit from fewer redundant scans, as their imaging records are accessible to both sites.
Radiologists and other providers, particularly the spinal teams, experience more efficient workflows, as imaging studies are no longer constrained by hospital-specific systems. In addition, the ability to access a patient's full imaging history regardless of location supports continuous, coordinated care across facilities.
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust are collaborating as providers to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of services. You can find out more about the Suffolk and North East Essex Provider Acute and Community Collaborative here.