Giovanni Cocozza

(1) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Radiology Department should review its procedures so as to ensure that there are in place clear and uniform protocols concerning the way in which requests for imaging which are not unconditionally accepted are dealt with. In particular, it would be desirable if possible that where an alternative form of imaging is proposed, there be discussion with the requesting physician and any professional differences resolved at the time of consideration of the request, thus avoiding unnecessary delay. Furthermore, procedures of dealing with imaging requests should be reviewed so that a clear audit trail for each and every request made, including those requests which are rejected, is kept. Time consuming paper methods of making and rejecting imaging requests should be phased out where at all possible.

(2) Those making imaging requests should ensure that they have in place systems to monitor the outcome of every request made and which are capable of identifying timeously any imaging request which has not been carried out.

(3) Prisoner records should contain an accurate, comprehensive and regularly updated easily accessible summary of the prisoner’s significant medical history and current issues to ensure that those treating the prisoner can quickly obtain an understanding of the prisoner’s medical position and treat appropriately. The full use of technology should be employed to this end wherever possible.

(4) Procedures for transferring prisoners should be reviewed and standardised to ensure that when a prisoner is transferred, a careful review is made of the prisoner’s medical position by the transferring prison so that all notable features, especially in relation to current treatment and investigation, are clearly brought out in the prisoner’s medical records.

(5) Procedures in the receiving prison for dealing with transferred prisoners should be reviewed and standardised to ensure that within a short period of a prisoner being transferred, a medical officer at the receiving prison consults with the prisoner and reviews his/her medical position with reference to his/her medical records and any observations made by other medical staff following reception.