Service review

Invited service reviews are often requested:

• where there are concerns about how a service is performing – for example, about quality or safety; or
• to provide an external assessment following; for example, reconfiguration or change of leadership, or a service’s response to recruitment, retention or other workforce challenges.

They are not used as a means of assessing the clinical competence of individual doctors, and do not replace existing procedures for managing performance.

Where can I find more information about the process?

Our document Service Reviews: Process guidance for clinical oncology and clinical radiology sets out in detail the principles underpinning the invited service review process, planning and preparing for a review, as well as the processes that will normally be followed by the RCR when undertaking reviews at the request of services.

Concerns regarding any individual’s practice must be addressed promptly, both to ensure that patient safety is not compromised, and to avoid unwarranted escalation of issues for the individual, those with managerial oversight of and responsibility for the individual concerned, and for the wider radiology or oncology team.

The RCR does not offer invited reviews of individual doctors’ practice. However, we are aware that the availability of bespoke support for dealing with difficulties of this kind varies across the country, and we are committed to ensuring that support is available for our members and Fellows who are managing concerns of this kind. With that in mind, we are able to offer generic advice which may assist you in navigating the processes that should be followed locally (particularly in relation to Maintaining High Professional Standards).

Please contact us for an initial, confidential conversation.