Two new state-of-the-art CT (computerised tomography) scanners are now fully operational at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH), and can perform over 1,000 patient scans every month at East Surrey Hospital and Crawley Hospital.
The investment means there is now an additional scanner to add to the existing one at Crawley Hospital, while the oldest of the three scanners at East Surrey Hospital has been replaced.
These high performing scanners increase capacity for outpatient diagnostic appointments for the local community both in East Surrey and in Crawley and Horsham, offering more flexibility to access specialised examinations. More patients will be able to benefit from state-of-the-art cardiac scans at East Surrey Hospital, where the new scanner completes an examination in less than one second and significantly increases the quality and accuracy of the images.
A CT scan uses X-rays, sophisticated multi-receptor technology and ultrafast computing to create detailed images of the inside of the body in a matter of seconds. The images are used to detect a range of conditions such as cancers, strokes and heart disease, as well as accurately defining the extent of injury in trauma patients, guiding complex interventions and monitoring the results of a range of treatments.
Dr Tony Newman-Sanders, consultant radiologist and chief of cancer and diagnostics, said: “We are pleased to be able to transform and improve patient care using the latest technology to perform specialised examinations. We have made significant investment within the radiology department to ensure that our services offer more flexibility to our patients and reduce wait times.”
The funding for the CT scanners was successfully bid for from a two year £200m fund established by NHS England and Improvement to increase capacity by replacing older scanners. The cost of installing them was met by the Trust.
The arrival of the new scanners are yet another milestone for the team, following the opening of the purpose-built MRI department at East Surrey Hospital in partnership with InHealth earlier this year.
SASH provides services in a variety of radiology modalities including X-ray, CT, MRI, interventional radiology (IR), nuclear medicine and ultrasound.
The CT scanner at East Surrey Hospital is situated towards the back of the diagnostic imaging (x-ray) department in the purple zone and the scanner at Crawley is in the main X-ray at the front of the main hospital behind the lifts and opposite the café.