‘Fastest type of CT scanner in the NHS’ launched at CHS by Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson
Croydon University Hospital now has a top of the range CT scanner that is more comfortable for patients and produces incredibly detailed pictures to help clinicians find and treat health problems in any part of the body.
Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson unveiled the new scanner at Croydon University Hospital alongside Trust Chair Mike Bell, radiography department staff and representatives from manufacturers Canon Medical Systems. Tessa, who has family in Croydon, once relied on scanners and other NHS support when an achilles injury took her out of competitive sport for two years.
The new device, called the Aquilion ONE™ GENESIS Edition CT, is a type of CT scanner. CT stands for Computerised Tomography, which means it combines X-Rays with special computers. It is the fastest type of CT scanner used in the NHS and can produce high-resolution, accurate images of a heart in only 135 milliseconds – faster than a heartbeat.
Among its other innovations is ‘Laser Collimation’, which means additional X-Rays are no longer needed to help measure the true dimensions of a patient’s body area. This shortens set-up times and lowers the dose of X-Ray radiation.
It is very adjustable, with moving parts that help patients to sit or lay down in more comfortable positions. The whole device is more streamlined, reducing the anxiety that some patients feel when they enter a scanner. Pleasant, illuminated images provide a relaxing environment and fun video cartoons help guide children through the process. It also gives advice to patients in many languages.
Notably, it will help ensure the hospital can manage growing demand for scans of patients’ hearts and blood circulation. Changes in regulations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) mean that more NHS patients with suspected Coronary Artery Disease must now be scanned by CT, rather than have invasive coronary angiography. This is better for patients and means 26 per cent of the CT scans at Croydon university Hospital are now for cardiac care.
Anne Geoghegan, CT Superintendent at Croydon University Hospital, part of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said:
“It is fantastic that we now have the fastest type of CT scanner in the NHS. It brings our CT imaging firmly up to date, so we can meet demand confidently and offer greater comfort to patients. We love how patients can have wrists and elbows scanned from the comfort of a chair. It’s also great that the table, uniquely, can reposition patients sideways to help ensure detailed images at the lowest possible X-Ray dose. It represents the first big step in the establishment of our new multi-million pound Diagnostic Centre throughout 2018, which is modernising and joining-up our scanning services in Croydon.”
Tessa Sanderson said:
“Croydon is lucky to have such expertise and technology available. I had a nasty sporting injury at the height of my competitive career. The NHS came through and got me back on my feet but I certainly wish they had these brilliant modern scanners back then.”
Mark Hitchman, Managing Director at Canon Medical Systems UK added:
“The speed of our CT scanning is truly amazing – an entire image of the heart at nearly the same rate as the speed of light to travel around the world, or an entire liver in the blink of an eye. These innovations at the frontline of patient care in the NHS, will help support the clinical and service demands facing radiographers and radiologists today. We are very pleased to have been selected by Croydon University Hospital to work in partnership to futureproof its CT imaging equipment and we will continue to support with maintenance, service and training.”
The photograph shows (from left): Consultant Radiologist Nelesh Jeyadevan, Supt Radiographer Simone O`Connor, Lead Superintendent Radiographer Anne Geoghegan, Radiographer Helper Gareth Evans, CT admin Clerk Sharon Patel, Radiographer Helper Veronica Fox, Tessa Sanderson , Senior Radiographer Brenda Straker, CT admin clerk Naina Shah, Senior Radiographer Jo Carpenter and Lead Consultant Radiologist Dr Ketul Patel.