![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
A joint pilot by South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals has introduced emergency X-ray services in patients’ homes, in what the partners say is a first for a UK ambulance trust.
The four-month Emergency Community X-Ray Service trial saw an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner and a hospital radiographer attend suitable 999 calls, often involving falls, using portable imaging equipment to diagnose injuries without hospital admission. The initiative aimed to keep vulnerable patients—particularly those living with frailty or dementia—at home where possible.
Of 38 patients treated during the pilot, 25 were able to remain at home. Twenty-one showed no fracture, while four had minor fractures that could be managed without hospital care. The scheme also saved 34.5 hours of ambulance utilisation, with organisers estimating the approach could save the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds a year if rolled out more widely.
Consultant radiographer Andrew Moth, who helped create the project, said the results demonstrated the potential of community-based diagnostics. “This is a revolutionary service, the first of its kind in the UK,” he said, adding that patient feedback had been overwhelmingly positive, with all participants happy to receive X-rays at home.
Practice Development Lead James Fern said portable Fuji equipment allowed high-quality imaging comparable to hospital standards, with scans transmitted immediately to St Peter’s Hospital for review. Treating patients in the community also reduced anxiety and avoided risks linked to hospital admissions, he added.
The pilot aligns with the NHS’s push to shift more care into community settings using new technology. Following the trial’s success, the Emergency Community X-Ray Service is now expanding to operate five days a week from February to May, with potential plans to extend the model across Surrey if results continue to be positive.
To read similar articles, check out our Frontline channel
