1998/1999 Annual Review - Imaging

Consolidation of Services
1998/99 was a year of consolidation as far as the imaging department was concerned with no new items of equipment being installed over this period.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
As far as Service Development was concerned, the year did see the introduction of two extra magnetic resonance imaging sessions being provided for the Wirral Hospital Trust in order to assist them to cope with increasing demand for MRI activity from their own clinicians. To ensure there was no detriment to CCO patients, an extra six hours of service a week has been provided since that time for our own use. The MRI department has also absorbed a slight increase in activity related to the patients from the Isle of Man for whom we provide an MRI service. (Photo: Margaret Williamson, Superintendent Diagnostic Radiographer)

Computer Tomography
CT activity has increased by 5.2% over the past twelve months. Since the installation of the new CT machine two years ago, we have achieved an extra 28.2% additional workload with no change in staffing levels.

Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine has also experienced a similar increase in activity, this time by 5.5%. Unfortunately, the Nuclear Medicine service is working at peak capacity and increased activity has resulted in some general increase in waiting times for all patients. This reinforces our need to consider a replacement Gamma Camera, our present machines is the oldest and busiest single-headed gamma camera in this part of the region. To this end we have been making an initial assessment of possible future development and equipment in Nuclear Medicine and hope to proceed with this matter further over the coming year. (Photo:Petrina O’Halloran, Senior Diagnostic Radiographer and Keith Grant, Clinical Director Imaging)

IM & T Developments
We have felt for a long time the need to improve departmental management and information technology systems. We are progressing this in the wider context of an integrated IM & T Strategy throughout CCO as a whole and foresee that this should be able to deliver better access for requests and imaging reports, film tracing and ultimately improved service to our patients.