Maiden voyage: Brand new CT scanner up and running at St Helier Hospital
A brand new, state-of-the-art CT scanner is up and running at St Helier Hospital following an investment of £1.2 million.
The arrival of the new equipment means that the hospital now has two CT (computed tomography) scanners, which will enable patients who need specialist scans to be seen and treated faster than ever before. Mina Deved, Head of Radiology Services, said: “The investment in the new CT scanner is fantastic news for our patients. CT is a really valuable diagnostic tool – it is used for both emergencies and planned appointments, to help diagnose conditions, guide further tests and treatments for patients, and monitor existing conditions.
“A CT scan produces detailed images of many structures inside the body, including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones. These images can then be used to diagnose damage to bones, injuries to internal organs, problems with blood flow, strokes and cancer. The information we get from a CT scan can also help determine the stage of complex diseases, reduce the need for exploratory surgeries, and reduce the length of time someone spends in hospital.”
Mr Wallace Sharpless of Carshalton was the first patient to use the CT scanner, which is located in the Mackenzie Unit (1st floor A block), alongside the existing one. Mina said: “Using the CT scanner for the first time was really exciting for the whole team. We take great pride in putting our patients first and delivering great care to every patient, every day, and the new scanner will help make sure we can keep doing just that!”
Chief Operating Officer Caroline Landon said: “Having a second CT scanner at St Helier Hospital is great news for our patients, and puts us at the forefront in terms of being able to provide more timely access to cutting edge diagnostic equipment.
“I know that all of our staff – me included – are really excited about the difference the new CT scanner is going to make for our patients.”
