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Boosting echocardiography capacity for Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
Xyla partnered with Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a flexible and reliable echocardiography service that consistently exceeded capacity targets, improved patient access and supported the trust’s cardiology teams through ongoing high demand.
Key stats
1,484
clinics delivered from August 2019 to January 2026
25,762
scans completed as of January 2026
scans completed as of January 2026
112
scans per week on average in 2025
scans per week on average in 2025
55%
above initial targets achieved during early service performance.
The challenge
The trust was experiencing growing pressure within its echocardiography service. Rising referrals, workforce shortages and increasing diagnostic backlogs meant patients were waiting longer for essential cardiac investigations. Despite the commitment of internal teams, capacity could not keep pace with demand.
To protect timely diagnostics and maintain safe flow across cardiac pathways, the trust needed a partner who could increase throughput quickly, work seamlessly with existing teams and provide a service that could scale as demand continued to rise.
Why Xyla?
Xyla was chosen for its strong track record in insourced diagnostic services and its ability to deploy BSE accredited echocardiographers quickly and safely. The trust valued Xyla’s dependable delivery, flexible clinic scheduling and consistent operational support, all of which helped provide stability during periods of high demand.
The partnership was built on three core priorities: quality, continuity and rapid scalability. Xyla aligned with all three, offering a solution that supported both immediate pressures and longer-term needs.
The solution
The service launched in August 2019 with a model tailored to the trust’s clinic flow, onsite capacity and patient volumes. The initial plan was to deliver 55 TTE scans per week for 13 weeks with a step down to 22. From the first session, however, Xyla exceeded expected throughput, giving the trust a welcome increase in capacity earlier than anticipated.
As demand grew, Xyla adjusted clinic schedules and staffing to ensure the service remained aligned with operational needs. BSE accredited echocardiographers provided reliable, high-quality diagnostics, while Xyla’s operational team oversaw rota planning, reporting processes and day to day communication. The result was a stable and predictable service that integrated effortlessly with existing cardiology operations.
The partnership expanded over time. The weekly contracted volume increased to 100 scans and throughout 2025 Xyla exceeded this level, delivering an average of 112 scans per week. Thanks to strong performance and collaborative working, the trust extended the service for another two years from January 2026.
“We started working with Xyla to provide staffing for our Echo department in 2019 and they took the time to understand our needs and provide high quality staff members that fit our team. We would recommend Xyla to other trusts who are in a similar situation.”
Gemma Arnold, Senior Chief Cardiac Physiologist, Kingston & Richmond NHS Foundation Trust.
Impact
With 1,484 clinics delivered and 25,762 scans completed, Xyla provided a substantial and sustained uplift in capacity. This helped the trust improve access to timely echocardiography and reduce pressure across the cardiac pathway.
In 2025, Xyla delivered an average of 112 scans per week against a contracted 100 and early service performance exceeded targets by 55%. This dependable uplift gave the trust confidence in its ability to manage fluctuating demand.
Xyla’s clinically assured workforce ensured the trust could continue delivering essential diagnostics during periods of workforce pressure. Internal teams were able to focus on more complex patient needs while maintaining a high standard of care.
Strong performance and seamless integration led the trust to extend the partnership for a further two years from January 2026. This reflects the trust’s confidence in Xyla’s approach and the value the service brings to patients and staff.
Increase capacity and improve patient access to critical services
If your organisation needs to increase echocardiography capacity or strengthen diagnostic resilience, our team is here to help. Learn more about how our insourced echocardiography service can support your patients and your teams.
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