Yeovil Hospital’s radiology department has been introduced to a new CT scanner in hopes of reducing wait times.
The previous CT scanner was getting old, a spokesperson for the trust explained, necessitating the move to the update installation.
Katie Howells, interim site lead for radiology at Yeovil Hospital, said everyone in the department was pleased with the new CT scanner.
'Served us well'
She added: “Our previous CT scanner served us well and has been a workhorse over the years, but it was clear that it was getting old as the time to process scans was becoming longer.
“This meant that we were prioritising specific types of examinations into our other newer scanner, so we very much lost the flexibility of where we were able to scan.”
She explained it was “crucial” they had a new scanner to cope with the demand from critical care units, trauma patients and those with suspected strokes or brain haemorrhages.
'It can have a knock on effect'
“When we have less flexibility, it can have a knock on effect on the time patients need to wait for a scan, which is far from ideal,” she continued. “We mitigated against that by not doing all types of examinations in the older CT scanner, but this new scanner gives us that extra flexibility, meaning we have a much-improved workflow, so we can actively manage our patients.
The new scanner will also improve the general arrangements when a patient comes for a scan, so they can be assigned evenly between scanners.
'It was not as easy to visualise'
Ms Howells added that the team had adjusted the layout of the CT scanning room to open up more flexibility.
She said: “Previously it was not as easy to visualise our ventilated patients and equipment, but the new reconfiguration makes this much easier.
“The changes have gone down well with colleagues on the whole, who’ve said they find it easier to navigate around the larger room, and it’s also a better use of the space.
“Overall, it’s great news for our patients and another example of investment in Yeovil Hospital."
(Image: Yeovil Hospital)