Freedom of Information
George Eliot Hospital
College Street
Nuneaton CV 10 7DJ
Telephone 024 76 351351
Email:
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
REF GEH/1920/232
September 2019
Dear Ms Ellis
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.
Please see the response to your query below
Prostate Cancer UK undertook a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request of all Trusts,
Health Boards and Health and Social Care Trusts in 2016, and again in 2018, with the aim of
achieving a state of the nation overview of the use of mpMRI before biopsy.
We gained an in-depth understanding of the current status of mpMRI before prostate biopsy
across the UK. We have used the data to make the case to National Commissioners for
implementation support. It has also guided our funding and development of resources that
respond to some of the challenges and barriers to implementation that centres told us they
faced.
This third and final round of questions is our means of understanding what progress has
been made and to identify where we can target our resources and National Commissioners’
support to have maximum impact.
We really appreciate your help with this. Please pass the below on to your urology
department for them to complete. If this is not possible we would really appreciate your help
to provide as much information as you can.
Yours faithfully,
1. Do you routinely conduct prostate MRI (bpMRI/mpMRI) scans before first prostate
biopsy as part of the initial diagnostic process? (please tick all that apply):
a. Yes, using T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted (multi-b ADC and high/long b) and dynamic
contrast enhanced (DCE) sequences (X)
b. Yes, using T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted (multi-b ADC and high/long b) sequences
but not DCE
c. No but we refer to another provider (please provide details)
d. No (please provide details)
2. If yes, to 1a: What percentage of men with suspected prostate cancer receive mpMRI -
before biopsy as part of the initial diagnostic process? ALL
3. If yes, to 1b: What percentage of men with suspected prostate cancer receive bpMRI
before biopsy as part of the initial diagnostic process?
4. What are your eligibility criteria/exclusion criteria for prostate MRI? (please tick all that
apply):
a. Age (please provide details) Yes
b. Symptoms (please provide details)
c. Life expectancy (please provide details) Yes
d. Contra-indications (please provide details)Yes Claustrophobia, incompatin=ble metal
containing implants
e. Other (please provide details)
5. Are you using results from the prostate MRI before biopsy to rule some men out of
biopsy as part of the initial diagnostic process? (yes)
6. Do you biopsy all PI-RADS or LIKERT 3 scores? No we are selective
a. Yes
b. No
c. Dependent on patient histology
7. What threshold do you mostly use for ruling men out of biopsy?
a. PI-RADs 3 and above Less than PIRADS 3
b. LIKERT 3 and above
c. PI-RADs 4 and above
d. LIKERT 4 and above
e. Varies depending on age (Please provide detail)
f. Varies depending on other factors (Please provide detail)
8. What percentage of men do you estimate are ruled out of biopsy? Estimate is we do
not biopsy about 60% of men that have MRI Prostate
9. Have there been any changes to your prostate MRI capacity in the last year? (please
choose all that apply):
a. An additional or new MRI scanner
b. Increased MRI scanner slots for prostate
c. Agreement to use Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
d. No longer using Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
e. A scanner/magnet upgrade
f. other (free text) WE do not have any problems getting MRI done
10. Has the number of radiologists at your trust/health board who report prostate MRI
scans changed in the last year?
a. Increased (X) (locums)
b. Decreased
c. Stayed the same
11. How many radiologists at your trust/health board report at least 250 prostate MRI
scans per year? No-one (total MR prostate scans per year = 251)
12. Which of the following processes do you follow to manage men ruled out of an immediate
biopsy, but with a raised PSA?
a. NICE Guidelines: prostate cancer diagnosis and management (NG131)
b. A local protocol (please provide details)
c. Other (please provide details)
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to
request a review of our response please write to:
Caldicott Guardian (Medical Director)
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
College Street
Nuneaton
CV10 7DJ
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the
Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision
unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the George Eliot Hospital
NHS Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
The Trust always seeks feedback on how it handles requests made under the Freedom of
Information Act. If you wish to provide feedback please e-mail
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx
Yours sincerely
FOI Team
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust College Street | Nuneaton | Warwickshire | CV10 7DJ
www.geh.nhs.uk
“Our vision is to EXCEL at patient care”