We’re excited to bring you news about the PERFECTS programme, which is making significant progress in improving the quality and availability of CT Colonography screening throughout the NHS. 

CT Colonography (CTC) is a highly effective screening tool in identifying early-stage colon cancer.  This non-invasive, CT scanner-based test is an alternative screening method to colonoscopy and provides the ability to look at other organs in the abdomen and pelvis outside of the colon, including the appendix.  However, a study by Dr. Anu Obaro, Consultant and CTC Lead Radiologist at St. Mark’s, identified that there were wide differences in the training received, resulting in significant variations in the quality of interpretation of CTC scans. 

To help tackle this, 40tude provided funding for the development of a novel training and quality assurance tool for this form of colon cancer screening.  The aims of this St. Mark’s-led programme, known as ‘PERFECTS’, were to address the training gaps, enhance reporting quality and meet the increasing need for CT Colonography within the NHS.  

Our support of the initial phase of this programme enabled the PERFECTS team to devise and successfully deliver high-quality training for more than 70 radiologists.  Based on this success, the team has pioneered the creation of the new National CTC Training Academy, with the aim of making ‘gold standard’ training in CTC screening accessible across the UK. 

At the same time 40tude has been funding a further study by Rachel Baldwin-Cleland, Clinical Research Fellow and Diagnostic Radiographer at St. Mark’s, into extending training in CTC reporting to radiographers also.  Our support of ‘PERFECTS-2’ has been made possible by the family and friends of Andrew Edwards, who raised more than £175,000 for 40tude in Andrew’s memory in September 2022.  If successful, training radiographers as well as radiologists to interpret scan results could enable greater use of CT Colonography to detect colon cancer, reducing colonoscopy lists and accelerating diagnostic result times.

Some highlights shared recently by Rachel include:

• The National CTC Training Academy has achieved Accreditation status, ensuring formal recognition for its programme 
• As many as 12 Centres of Excellence have now been opened in England, enabling more access to high-quality training in CTC
• Scotland’s first CTC training Centre of Excellence has been established at Stracathro Hospital near Dundee, with further expansion planned within Scotland in the near future
• Representatives from Northern Ireland have begun to participate in the programme
• The new Digital Campus continues to work successfully, enabling more people to access the training components online also
• Excellent feedback on the training modules created by the PERFECTS team is being received from radiographers, as well as radiologists

And, in recognition of the significance of this initiative, the programme is being funded by a grant from NHS England.

Thank you to everyone in the 40tude community for enabling our early funding of this pioneering initiative, which is increasing the availability and quality of CT Colonography screening.  The earlier that colon cancer can be diagnosed, the more likely it is that it can be successfully treated, and lives saved.