Consultant Radiologist Dr Syed Babar - Part 1

In this episode of ‘Interview the Expert’, we speak with Dr Syed Babar Consultant Radiologist for the NHS and private practice. Dr Babar has specific expertise in musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, sports and gynecological imaging.

Topics include:

1:40 -  How and why did you start Radiology?
3:40 -  Do you specialise? Musco-skeletal and Sports Medicine - hence spine specialty.
4:15 -  40 to 50 scans per day (40% of daily work is spinal)
5:40 -  Big pressure to report on scans (time pressure) 24 hours on private setups. People expect scan reports immediately.
7:00 -  NHS and private practice have large workload differences. Time is the pressure not the quality.
9:10 -  Scan reports can be different. Why is this? (Social media clip?)
11:00 - What if something is missed? The clinician heads the assessment.
12:20 - Self-referral is an issue - who is responsible for the report once done? You are not treating the scan but the patient.
14:20 - Reading your own MRI is something to be discouraged. 
17:10 - A patient can become anxious given report reading. These reports are for clinicians NOT the patient directly.
20:05 - Any one scan preferred for generic back pain? Imagery should be used where required ONLY.
23:00 - When are X-ray, CT and MRI used? Each has their role.
24:40 - Open MRI can be useful for replicating a standing or sitting position BUT the magnets are not as strong.