The U.K. government has announced on 8 November an investment of 248 million pounds (290 million euros) for National Health Service (NHS) to digitize diagnostic imaging services in an effort to minimize delays and clear the backlog of scans.
The funding will help hospitals share patient results easily and quickly, thus decreasing administrative burden on NHS staff and reducing the time from patients undergoing a diagnostic test and beginning treatment, the government said in a statement.
"Today's multimillion-pound investment will play a big role in leveling up diagnostics services across the country so patients can get faster results and healthcare professionals can get their job done more easily, reducing unnecessary administrative burden and making every taxpayer's pound count," said U.K. Secretary of Health and Social Care Sajid Javid.
The Royal College of Radiologists has welcomed the news and issued a press release.
The cash infusion follows on a 2.3 billion pound investment (2.7 billion euros) the U.K. announced in October that it will make over the course of three years to also improve patient access to diagnostic testing.
