Coronavirus (COVID-19): supporting elective care – clinical prioritisation of imaging examinations

The framework provides a standardised national process for the clinical prioritisation of patients who have been referred for a diagnostic imaging test.


Imaging clinical prioritisation – clinical categories

The following information outlines suggestions regarding which examinations should be included within each priority level. These suggestions are split by modality and should form the basis of a Clinical Prioritisation framework for vetting Radiologists or Radiographers.

Priority 1

USOC - examinations for patients where there is significant concern of cancer

Cancer pathway - examinations for patients on an active cancer pathway, where imaging is high priority including assessment of treatment response

Urgent - examinations to diagnose and/or alter treatment for significant disease or injury where delay is likely to result in: risk to function; worsening disability; or worsening pain

Priority 2

Routine - examinations which do not fall into any of the other priority levels

Cancer surveillance - examinations for patients undergoing surveillance after cancer treatment

Priority 3

Non-urgent non-cancer - examinations to diagnose and/or alter treatment for disease or injury where delay is unlikely to result in: risk to function; worsening disability; or worsening pain
 

Contact

Waiting Times Team: WTIP@gov.scot

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