We are inviting NHS trusts to apply for the CLEAR Midlands Radiology Transformation Programme – a fully funded initiative delivered by the National CLEAR Programme in partnership with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and funded by NHS England – Midlands.
Radiology services across the Midlands are under growing pressure – reflecting national trends. Rising demand -particularly from ED referrals – and workforce shortages have contributed to longer waits, operational strain and variation in how imaging is used. Some patients undergo scans that offer limited diagnostic benefit, while others face delays for essential tests.
To address these challenges, NHS England- Midlands has commissioned this programme to help trusts in the Midlands to redesign radiology pathways through evidence-based and AI-driven insights. Focussing on ED referrals for CT pulmonary angiogram, CT abdomen and CT pelvis investigations, the programme will:
✅ Analyse referral and outcome data at scale
✅ Support the reduction of low-yield or unnecessary imaging
✅ Optimise referral thresholds for timely access
✅ Help free up radiology capacity and enhance patient care
By applying advanced analytical tools – including AI and large language models – we will analyse large-scale referral and outcome data to pinpoint opportunities for improvement. This may include reducing low-yield imaging, enhancing diagnostic accuracy or reshaping referral thresholds to ensure timely access for those most in need.
The programme builds on a successful proof-of-concept at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, where AI-supported redesign safely reduced unnecessary scans and improved patient access.
📅 Key dates:
- Info webinars: 10 September and 15 September (12:30–1:30pm)
- EOI deadline: 6 October
- Outcome notifications: 10 October
👉 More information about the programme can be found here. The EOI form is here.
