The Quality Standard for Imaging
Supporting and enabling quality improvement in imaging services
Download the Standard
Supporting and enabling quality improvement in imaging services
Download the StandardThe College of Radiographers (CoR) and the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) developed the Quality Standard for Imaging (QSI) to support diagnostic imaging services to make continuous improvements ensuring patients consistently receive high quality services delivered by competent staff working in safe environments.
Services meet the Standard through accreditation via an independent third party.
The Standard reflects wide consultation with professional colleagues, as well as relevant UK government agencies and regulatory bodies. It has been assessed for use in all four countries of the UK.
With the national direction of developing imaging networks across the UK, The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and The College of Radiographers (CoR) have been working to develop the Quality Standard for Imaging Networks (QSIN). The QSIN is written to stand alone; and emerging or nascent networks can use it to help develop their governance and quality improvement processes.
All processes developed for quality improvement should be embedded and in routine use to achieve a culture of quality. While led from the top of the service, a culture of quality is everyone’s responsibility. These standards are designed to encourage all services to become part of an imaging network, with the benefits of mutual support and learning this brings.
Although these imaging network quality standards have been published independently from the Quality Standard for Imaging 2021 (QSI 2021), it is envisaged that, as imaging networks develop, the QSIN will be an integral part of the QSI.
The standards were officially launched at The UK Imaging and Oncology Congress (UKIO) in July 2022.
We welcome any feedback on these standards – please email [email protected]..
QSI 2021 has undergone a rigorous development and review process and represents the judgements of panels of lay representatives, radiographers, radiologists, medical physicists, and sonographers who have overseen its creation and revision. It reflects wide consultation and valuable comments and suggestions received from professional colleagues and relevant UK government agencies, professional and regulatory bodies. The QSI has been assessed for country-specific applicability.
The QSI aims to improve the quality of care for people attending an imaging service. It sets out best practice to improve patient care and outcomes. Clinical practice is a continually evolving field, and the QSI will be independently reviewed every four years.
The new QSI 2021 standard can be found here.
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) delivers accreditation against all elements of QSI, providing formal third-party recognition that a provider has demonstrated their organisational competence to deliver high quality imaging services.
Many services across the UK have attained accreditation and they are all happy to answer questions you may have about their experiences. You are welcome to visit their sites. Find their details here.
Accreditation to Professional Standards is supported by the Care Quality Commission, NHS England, NHS Northern Ireland, and NHS Wales
When radiotherapy equipment (CT, MRI, Ultrasound) is used for diagnostic imaging purposes then there must be policies, procedures and protocols in line with statutory requirements in place. It is recommended that these are in accordance with or duplicated from the local Diagnostic Imaging department to ensure consistency of high quality scanning. Appropriately trained Operators (diagnostic imaging staff) must be used to perform diagnostic imaging and there should be assurance that all relevant equipment QA for imaging purposes has been performed and is up to date. Staff should participate in Image Optimisation groups.
The use of radiotherapy scanning for planning purposes is not covered by the QSI as it is not, at that point, a diagnostic imaging tool.
The RCR and the CoR acknowledge that many imaging services are operating in an environment where time, money and resources are very limited. The QSI 2021 has reframed the standards with a focus on outcome measures with the aim of reducing the burden of evidence input requirements for services.
Please find a list of resources below that can help you navigate the QSI:
If you have any further questions or need help using the Standard, please contact our Quality Improvement Partners.