Freedom of Information request Proactive – Prostate MRI

Dear Sir/Madam, PROACTive (Prostate MRI: Assessment of Capacity and Quality) FOI Pre-biopsy prostate MRI is central to accurate prostate cancer diagnosis, helping to reduce unnecessary biopsies and improve detection of clinically significant disease. However, rising incidence, growing demand for MRI within diagnostic and screening pathways, and evidence of variable image quality are placing increasing pressure on NHS services - threatening equitable access and consistent diagnostic performance. The last national assessment of prostate MRI capacity was conducted in 2019. PROACTive aims to address this gap by evaluating current NHS capacity and quality, and implementing a structured improvement programme to support equitable, high-quality prostate cancer imaging nationwide. This questionnaire forms the first phase of the study. To ensure a complete national picture, data are being collected via a Freedom of Information request. This approach has been chosen to maximise response rates and ensure no trust is inadvertently excluded from the assessment. Responses will inform national recommendations only - no individual institution will be identified or singled out. Trust Details -Trust full name: -Trust address: -Trust postcode: Scanner Inventory -How many MRI scanners are used for prostate imaging at your Trust? (N): (For each scanner) -Manufacturer: -Scanner Model: -Scanner magnetic field strength (T): -What year was the scanner manufactured?: -What year was the scanner software last updated?: -Is this scanner a permanent or mobile unit?: -Is this scanner PIRADS v2.1 compliant?: -If ‘NO’, why is this scanner PIRADS v2.1 non-compliant? (Example: lack of high b-value (≥1,400 sec/mm2) image set): -Is an endorectal coil used with this scanner?: -If ‘YES’, please describe the endorectal coil used with this scanner (Example: DxTx Medical, eCoil): -Are any AI-based reconstruction or acquisition acceleration techniques used with this MRI scanner? (Example: No / Yes, vendor-provided / Yes, third-party AI software / Other): -If ‘Other’, please describe: -What is the full time slot that you dedicate to a multiparametric prostate MRI scan, including set-up, patient preparation time, imaging sequences, and patient turnaround? (X minutes): -What is the full time slot (minutes) that you dedicate to a biparametric prostate MRI scan, including set-up, patient preparation time, imaging sequences, and patient turnaround? (X minutes): Supplementary Imaging Techniques -Do you use an antispasmodic during prostate MRI imaging?: -If ‘YES’, please describe your antispasmodic drug, route of administration and dose (Example: Hyoscine butylbromide, intramuscular, 20mg): -Do you use any bowel preparation before prostate MRI imaging?: -If ‘YES’, please describe your method of bowel preparation (Example: Rectal enema): -Do you currently use an AI algorithm (commercial or academic) as part of your clinical workflow for prostate MRI reporting?: -If ‘YES’, please describe which algorithm(s) is currently being used (Example: Pi - Lucida Medical): Capacity -How many prostate MRIs were performed at the Trust in the last 3 months? -In the past 3 months, what proportion(%) of these scans were biparametric? -How many prostate MRIs were performed at the Trust in 2025? -In 2025, what proportion(%) of these scans were biparametric? -How many prostate MRIs were performed at the Trust in 2024? -In 2024, what proportion(%) of these scans were biparametric? -How many prostate MRIs were performed at the Trust in 2023? -In 2023, what proportion(%) of these scans were biparametric? Workforce -How many radiologists report prostate MRIs at your Trust? (N): (For each radiologist) -How many prostate MRIs does radiologist X report per year? -How many years of experience does radiologist X have in reporting prostate MRIs? Access -Based on the last 3 months, what is the mean wait time (days) for patients to receive an MRI having been referred onto the 2-week suspected prostate cancer pathway? (Duration from date of referral to date of scan in days): -Based on the last 3 months, what is the mean wait time (days) for prostate MRI interpretation by a radiologist? (Duration from date of scan to date of report in days): Yours faithfully,