New X-ray machine for cardiac care

Cardiac patients at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust are now benefitting from a new X-ray machine that gives clearer and improved images of coronary arteries.

Catheter Laboratory 1 at the RUH has recently been refurbished, including the control and equipment rooms, and the new X-ray machine – a GE Healthcare monoplane – installed.

Sharon Slade, Specialist Radiographer, said: "The new X-ray machine provides us with a far clearer image of the coronary arteries, while its specialist software packages enable us to see and position coronary stents in far more detail. The machine is one of the newest from GE and will enable us to complete procedures using less radiation, which is beneficial to both patients and staff."

Trust Chief Executive James Scott said: "This significant investment is yet another demonstration of our commitment to make our hospital fit for the future, with the very best equipment to further improve the care we provide to our patients."

The Catheter Laboratory at the RUH is where a variety of tests and procedures, including ablation, angiogram, angioplasty and the implantation of pacemakers, are carried out. It is staffed by a team of specialists made up of cardiologists, radiographers, cardiac physiologists and nurses.

Demand for these services is set to increase and the replacement of the existing equipment in the Catheter Laboratory was a priority for cardiology at the RUH.

Project Manager Charlotte Scully said: "The removal of the old equipment and the refurbishment and delivery of the new monoplane had to be managed very carefully, with minimal disruption, as there continued to be a live lab next door and a fully functioning recovery area outside of both labs. The programme also had very tight schedule as the lab had to be shut for the shortest time possible so as not to impact on patient care. We're grateful to everyone involved for helping the project run so smoothly."

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides acute treatment and care for a catchment population of around 500,000 people in Bath, and the surrounding towns and villages in North East Somerset and Western Wiltshire. The hospital provides healthcare to the population served by four Clinical Commissioning Groups: Bath & North East Somerset CCG, Wiltshire CCG, Somerset CCG and South Gloucestershire CCG.
• The Trust has 759 beds and a comprehensive range of acute services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services.
• In 2015 The Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acquired the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RNHRD) NHS Foundation Trust. The RNHRD treats patients from across the country offering services in rheumatology, chronic pain, chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, cancer related fatigue and fatigue linked to other long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
• The RUH is changing - we have an exciting programme of redevelopment underway transforming our site and further improving the services we provide. The Trust is building a purpose built RNHRD and Therapies Centre and is now working towards a new Dyson Cancer Centre. For more details visit: www.ruh.nhs.uk/fit4future

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