Assessing the effectiveness of MRI and CT scans in the NHS and forecasting future use

Details of the paper:

Aim of the paper is to analyze the market of MRI and CT scans specifically in the NHS. How much they are used, how necessary they are, how important they are, how effective they are in aiding treatment of disease; specifically, orthopedics and cancer.  Using this information predicting the increase in demand for MRI and CT scans and evaluating whether it is worth investing into getting more scanner or upgrading existing ones.

Key things to talk about:

Introduce the technology of MRI and CT scanners. Talk about the differences between them –  which ones is needed for which treatments? Comparison of advantages and disadvantages of the technologies. âœ”️

What are the disease challenges that these technologies are used for? How helpful are they in planning treatment?

Is it used only for initial diagnosis or also used later? How many scans does an average cancer or bone fracture patient need? How does this change for different cancers?

Evaluate productivity of MRI and CT scanners. How many scans per day is being done? How many patients are being treated? Are there enough scanners? Do patients need to wait to get a scan?

Case studies on 1. Cancer, and 2. Orthopedics!!!

Case study on how the MRI and CT scanner technology is used at the moment during cancer treatment and orthopedic treatments (eg. Knee/hip replacements) and how things might change.

1. Cancer – In cancer treatment what are the factors that cause change in demand, eg. there is more radiotherapy being done. How is demand increasing? How much can we expect it to increase. Can supply keep up?
2. Orthopedics – more diagnostics being carried out? Why?

Talk about why demand is increasing (factors affecting increase in demand). What’s happening with supply?

Demand created by intensity of treatment, demand created by increasing population, demand created by ageing population.

1. What’s happening because of intensity of treatment?!
2. What’s happening because of increasing population?!

Some sources to look at:

• NHS data, website
• Cancer strategy report.
• NICE (national institute of health and care excellence) website and see what it says about scanning (MRI, CT or in general) and care pathways on orthopedics and cancer.
• SWLEOC (South west London elective orthopedics centre) website – see what they’re telling patients about diagnostics. Short-term outcomes and long-term outcomes of treatment. Do you need regular follow-ups.
• Care quality commission report for SWLEOC (south west London elective orthopedic center).

Extras to talk about (if word limit isn’t reached):

Case study on SWLEOC.

Compare to Germany and German orthopedics.

Health at a glance pg 179. shows that orthopedics (hip replacements) are twice as common in Germany — is that all needed?

Germany vs UK healthcare systems