New “X-Ray at Home” service launches across North Staffordshire

People living in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire are set to benefit from a new NHS service designed to reduce unnecessary trips to A&E, with diagnostic imaging now available in patients’ own homes.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has launched X-Ray at Home, a mobile service aimed at providing faster, more convenient access to x-ray imaging while easing pressure on hospital emergency departments.

Bringing imaging into the community

The new service allows patients who are suitable for home-based imaging to receive an x-ray without travelling to hospital. Referrals can be made via a professional helpline by West Midlands Ambulance Service and community healthcare teams.

A senior radiographer and a support worker will visit patients in their own homes or care homes, working alongside the Community Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS). CRIS is a joint service delivered by UHNM and Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, supporting patients who are at risk of hospital admission.

The aim is to ensure patients who do not need to attend A&E can still access essential diagnostic care in a more comfortable and familiar setting.

Improving patient experience and reducing demand

Laura Greenwood, Superintendent Radiographer at UHNM, said the launch marks an important step forward for community-based care.

She described the service as an exciting development for radiography, highlighting that coming into hospital can be highly disruptive for some patients. Being able to deliver care at home, she said, makes a significant difference to patient comfort and wellbeing. She also expressed hopes that the service could expand in the future, with more mobile x-ray vehicles supporting even more patients.

Rob Gordon, Head of Imaging at UHNM, said the service has been a long-term goal.

He explained that X-Ray at Home helps ensure patients who do not require emergency department care can still access the imaging they need closer to home. He added that, alongside the CRIS team, the service is expected to improve patient experience while also reducing pressure on ambulance services and hospital departments.

Funded by charity support

The mobile x-ray vehicle has been funded by UHNM Charity, whose fundraising supports enhanced facilities, equipment, and services for patients across the UHNM hospitals.

Further information about the charity and the projects it supports can be found on the UHNM Charity website.