Medicare ultrasound insourcing for NOUS ultrasound

Description

The trust requires a 4-month contract extension to extend the existing ultrasound insourcing contract. Ultrasounds remain one of the Trust's highest volume diagnostic modalities and continues to represent a significant risk to DM01 compliance due to sustained demand growth and ongoing workforce constraints. The service currently operates with a 25% sonographer vacancy rate, reflecting national shortages which are not expected to resolve in the short term. In addition to ongoing workforce shortages and sustained growth in demand, the service is currently experiencing reduced diagnostic resilience due to an aging ultrasound equipment fleet. Two ultrasound scanners have reached the end of their serviceable life and are in the process of being replaced following capital approval. While this investment is critical for long term sustainability, the interim period of reduced equipment availability has further exacerbated backlog recovery and constrained capacity.