‘New Beginnings: Our Director of Digital Services Andrew Fearn reflects on 20 years at NUH as he steps down this year’
This blog piece is taken from the current edition of the EMRAD Contrast Magazine where Andrew Fearn reflects on the last 20 years of his role as the Director of Digital Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and next steps for the East Midlands Imaging Network (EMRAD) as its Accountable Officer/Chair.
To find out more about EMRAD, please click here and the full edition of the Contrast Magazine can be found here
After 20 years as the Director of Digital Services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, I have stepped down and handed the reins to someone else, so new beginnings for me. I will continue as the now ‘independent’ Accountable Officer/Chair for the EMRAD East Midlands Imaging Network, but my circumstances sparked a reflection on new beginnings.
First, though a bit of history. I started EMRAD 9 years ago because I was too tight to go through a procurement process for a replacement digital image store and thought it might be cheaper to club together with others in the region to save some money. Little did I know what we were creating? The success we have achieved clinically and financially as 8 Trusts working together - much beyond the simple image store replacement - has been phenomenal. Our accomplishments as a collaboration of like-minded NHS Radiology providers have shaped national policy. All NHS Trusts across England are now in a ‘Network’ with other Trusts.
EMRAD is seen as one of the most mature networks in the country. A very proud achievement. Folks from emergent Networks often ask us what the ‘secret sauce is? The simple fact is that Networks are not about organisations or national imperatives or technology, but are about people. We are incredibly fortunate in the East Midlands to have a cadre of passionate, dedicated, progressive souls who have stuck together for the benefit of the people we serve despite a few challenges and some tough times. They have learned a lot and pushed forward. The energy, commitment and willingness to continually improve are incredible.
A huge thank you from me for all of your tolerance, commitment and effort. But our Network is continually changing and, hopefully, improving, so it is also going through a new beginnings phase. In line with the national requirements, we are exploring new responsibilities and new requirements. Through Contrast, we will share with you the innovation and the opportunities that we will exploit to full advantage for the benefit of the communities we serve.
In the meantime, be proud!