Sample policy · Diagnostic imaging

Image reporting standards and turnaround policy (diagnostic imaging)

1. Purpose

This policy sets out how the Service maintains reporting standards, reporter scope, turnaround monitoring, urgent finding communication, peer review and discrepancy learning.

It covers the audit trail from image acquisition to report issue and referrer receipt.

2. Sources to verify before adoption

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

The policy applies to direct reporting by the Service and outsourced reporting arranged under the Service's governance.

4. Reporting workflow

The Service keeps a complete audit trail from scan acquisition to report receipt by the referrer or responsible clinician.

4.1 Acquisition and report request

Staff record the examination before images are released for reporting.

The record includes:

Staff escalate immediately if an image cannot be transferred, stored or retrieved.

4.2 Reporter qualification and scope

The Service keeps a reporter scope matrix.

The matrix records:

Sonographers and reporting radiographers report only within documented scope. The Radiologist reviews scope exceptions and records the decision.

4.3 Report content standard

The report answers the clinical question where possible and records limitations.

The report includes:

The Service checks the detailed report standard against current RCR, SCoR and modality guidance before adoption.

4.4 Report issue and receipt

The Service records that the verified report has been issued to the referrer or responsible clinician.

The record includes:

Reports are not treated as complete until issue has been recorded.

5. Turnaround standards and escalation

The Service sets reporting turnaround targets by modality, urgency and contract type.

Targets must be verified against current NHS England, RCR, commissioner and local source material before adoption. Where no external target applies, the Service labels the target as a local Verivius default.

The turnaround record includes:

Delayed reporting is recorded as an incident where delay creates patient risk, complaint risk or repeated governance concern.

6. Urgent findings, peer review and discrepancy learning

6.1 Urgent findings

The Service has a written urgent-findings communication pathway.

The pathway records:

The reporter does not rely on a report alone where the local urgent-findings standard requires direct alerting.

6.2 Peer review

The Service runs peer review according to local modality and professional requirements.

Peer review covers:

Peer review is recorded as learning, not blame, unless conduct or competence concerns require separate action.

6.3 Discrepancy and report quality issue

The Service records a discrepancy or report quality issue when a report is materially wrong, unclear, delayed or outside reporter scope.

The review checks:

7. Responsibilities

8. Recording requirements

The Service keeps the following records:

Records are kept in the Service governance records and linked to the patient record where relevant.

9. Audit cadence

The Service uses the following Verivius default audit rhythm unless current RCR, SCoR, NHS England, CQC, commissioner or local source material requires a different rhythm:

Audit findings are recorded as improvement actions with an owner and review date.

10. Version control and review date

The Service keeps a controlled copy of this policy. The footer or document-control table records:

11. Related records

Review cadence: annual or on regulatory change, whichever sooner. Owner: Registered Manager.

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Last reviewed 21 May 2026