PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Niall G Keenan AU - Gabriella Captur AU - Gerry P McCann AU - Colin Berry AU - Saul G Myerson AU - Timothy Fairbairn AU - Lucy Hudsmith AU - Declan P O'Regan AU - Mark Westwood AU - John P Greenwood TI - Regional variation in cardiovascular magnetic resonance service delivery across the UK AID - 10.1136/heartjnl-2020-318667 DP - 2021 Dec 01 TA - Heart PG - 1974--1979 VI - 107 IP - 24 4099 - http://heart.bmj.com/content/107/24/1974.short 4100 - http://heart.bmj.com/content/107/24/1974.full SO - Heart2021 Dec 01; 107 AB - Objectives To examine service provision in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in the UK. Equitable access to diagnostic imaging is important in healthcare. CMR is widely available in the UK, but there may be regional variations.Methods An electronic survey was sent by the British Society of CMR to the service leads of all CMR units in the UK in 2019 requesting data from 2017 and 2018. Responses were analysed by region and interpreted alongside population statistics.Results The survey response rate was 100% (82 units). 100 386 clinical scans were performed in 2017 and 114 967 in 2018 (15% 1-year increase; 5-fold 10-year increase compared with 2008 data). In 2018, there were 1731 CMR scans/million population overall, with significant regional variation, for example, 4256 scans/million in London vs 396 scans/million in Wales. Median number of clinical scans per unit was 780, IQR 373–1951, range 98–10 000, with wide variation in mean waiting times (median 41 days, IQR 30–49, range 5–180); median 25 days in London vs 180 days in Northern Ireland). Twenty-five units (30%) reported mean elective waiting times in excess of 6 weeks, and 8 (10%) ≥3 months. There were 351 consultants reporting CMR, of whom 230 (66%) were cardiologists and 121 (34%) radiologists; 81% of units offered a CMR service for patients with pacemakers and defibrillators.Conclusions This survey provides a unique, contemporary insight into national CMR delivery with 100% centre engagement. The 10-year growth in CMR usage at fivefold has been remarkable but heterogeneous across the UK, with some regions still reporting low usage or long waiting times which may be of clinical concern.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplemental information.