Imperial tenders for new digital imaging

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has gone out to tender for a new radiology information system, picture archiving and communications system and vendor neutral archive, Digital Health News has learned.

In 2012, the trust purchased a RIS, PACS and VNA from GE Healthcare. The original implementation date was December of that year, but while the PACS met the target date, the RIS implementation ran into trouble.

GE stressed at the time that it was working hard to remedy the problems with the RIS, but the trust’s board papers indicate that the trust has continued to face problems.

Papers from November 2014 show that it was taking staff longer to book patients in using the new RIS, while papers from January this year state: “There was an issue with our radiology information system resulting in a number of referrals to imaging not being appropriately tracked.”

The new procurement, which is being carried out through NHS Supply Chain, is said to be progressing quickly.

Digital Health News has been told by a well informed source that the trust has shortlisted two PACS prime providers: Carestream and Sectra, with both offering to provide a Soliton RIS. However, this has not been confirmed.

The trust has issued a statement saying: “We have started the process to procure a new provider of radiology information services and picture archiving communications systems.

“So far, we have held a supplier day and notified shortlisted suppliers.” It said it was not prepared to comment further.

A spokesperson for GE Healthcare said: “We have been notified that Imperial intends to re-procure its RIS/PACS system.

“We are disappointed of course, as similar systems have been successfully rolled out across many facilities in Europe, but GE Healthcare and the trust have worked together for many years and Imperial remains a valued customer.

“We will continue to provide RIS and PACS services to, and will work closely with, Imperial over the transition period.”