Jade Ryles, creator of Kidzscan and specialist nurse for children and young people’s neuro-oncology:
We’ve seen great innovations come from frontline ideas, so don’t worry about having all the details yet, every innovation starts small.
Speak to the team and explore it together. Your vision can become a reality with help from the innovation team.
Project
Kidzscan uses tailored techniques with children over the age of three to support them to undergo MRI scans without the need for general anaesthetic.
The innovative approach was initially developed and piloted by Jade Ryles, specialist nurse for children and young peoples neuro-oncology, at the Great North Children’s Hospital (GNCH).
The project initially supported children and young people with brain and spinal tumours who required an MRI scan. It was extended to include all children and young people requiring this additional support to undergo an MRI scan.
In June 2024, Michelle Waugh, innovation project manager was tasked with supporting the project’s wider roll out to reach more patients.
It has now been successful with a broader range of children including those with complex needs such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Condition, learning difficulties, epilepsy and anxiety.
Simon Bomken, consultant paediatrician
The service developed and offered has achieved things we would historically never have believed possible. It is safer and kinder than our alternatives and in real terms represents a huge resource saving per scan.
What this means for patient experience, productivity and efficiency
The project is supporting anxious children with a personalised approach involving tailored preparation to help them overcome their fears and undergo a vital MRI scan.
They are now able to have a scan without waiting longer for a general anaesthetic, accelerating their access to diagnostic imaging and improving their overall health through early intervention and treatment.
A suitability assessment is completed with 7 days of referral to the team.
The project is aligned with advancing care and joining up care priorities in the Newcastle Hospitals strategy.
Faye Forgaard, clinical psychologist
The service has proven to be invaluable asset. Not only is it genuinely patient focussed and trauma-informed in its core approach to patient care – reducing the risk of medical trauma – it is also fully aligned with trust values, and has significantly reduced pressure on wider service resources, both practically and financially.
How this benefits patients
A child was referred for a supported MRI scan with the Kidzscan team following an unsuccessful attempt in local services, a traumatic experience for both child and the family.
Through tailored techniques, the team supported the child to understand the process, feel safe and empowered to make their own choices, and build their confidence. The child completed the scan successfully awake.
Whilst the scan results were serious, the child left the department calm and proud they managed the scan.
They were able to have an early diagnosis and timely treatment, whilst the project’s unique approach reduced the likelihood of the child feeling overwhelmed and being unable to undergo future scans.
The potential complications a general anaesthetic can bring are no longer a consideration.
The child has undergone further MRI scans, all of which have been done without being put to sleep.
Their wait time was also reduced by nine months.
Ongoing feedback from families is they feel heard, well informed and reassured by the intervention.
Mat Elameer, consultant neuroradiologist
Thanks so much for everything you have achieved so far. I really hope we can continue as the results have been incredible, I never would have believed this would have worked as well as it has done. What a different for the children and families that you have helped with this.
How our innovation team helped
We held a stakeholder workshop and developed a project plan aimed at securing funding from Newcastle Hospitals Charity to establish a dedicated team to expand and embed the programme further, and create a training offer to upskill staff, ensuring long term sustainability.
She also identified a commercial opportunity to extend the training to external organisations and initiated collaboration with the Newcastle Hospitals Skills Academy to progress this work.
We successfully secured the required funding and continue to provide project management leadership as the project moves through the delivery stage of the innovation pathway.
James Slack, consultant paediatrician
This service has made a huge difference and you have managed scans I would have thought impossible, giving children and families a hugely positive experience. Equally avoiding general anaesthetics, improving clinical risk and saving both time and money.