A STATE-OF-THE-ART CT scanner is to be installed at Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer – representing another major investment in the facility.
A total of £500,000 has been granted via the Scottish Government for the purchase of a new scanner, which will offer the same scanning capabilities as at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and ensure equality of service across the region.
Work to install the equipment within the Radiology Department will begin on November 19 and run for approximately six weeks.
Measures are being put in place to help minimise disruption to the present service while work is carried out to install the new scanner.
This will see the introduction of a mobile CT scanner which will be temporarily based within the hospital car park until the installation is completed.
Nursing Services Manager Natalie Adams has welcomed the investment, and said: “This is excellent news for the Galloway Community Hospital and confirms our commitment to provide excellent, safe and effective health care to the community far into the future.
“This investment is the latest in a series of funding boosts over recent months.
“The new scanner will provide high quality scans to enhance clinical decision making and treatment plans.”
Other recent investments at Galloway Community Hospital have included an upgrade to the Day Surgery at a cost of approximately £200,000.
And a new state-of-the-art Central Water Plant which provides pure water for the hospital’s dialysis service was completed in March at a cost of £100,000.
Dr David Pedley is an Emergency Department Consultant who is based in Dumfries but also delivers services at Galloway Community Hospital.
He said: “A CT scanner plays a key role in medical diagnosis and treatment, and this equipment will be a very important part of our work at Galloway Community Hospital
“The scanner works by producing computer-processed combinations of X-ray measurements taken from different angles, producing cross-sectional images which allow us to see inside the body.
“This new CT scanner will offer faster scanning with improved quality of produced scans.
“The scanner itself has a larger bore, allowing the possibility of scanning claustrophobic patients, and also allowing more comfortable scanning for all sizes of patients.
“One other benefit of the new scanner is that it allows us to reduce the radiation dose from scanning.
“Rapid access to a CT scanner allows a number of life threatening emergencies to be managed locally and for treatment backed up by the latest evidence to be started as early as possible.
“A new scanner guarantees this access for the future as well as giving the best images possible.”
The company Modus are making the room ready for installation and Cannon are supplying and installing the new scanner.
General Manager for Acute and Diagnostic Services Nicole Hamlet says that the new CT scanner is another major investment which will enhance services at Galloway Community Hospital.
She said: “We’re extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for the funding which has helped make this possible, and are certain that this new enhanced technology at Stranraer will bring real medical benefits to communities for years to come.”
Natalie Adams added: “We acknowledge that the positioning of the temporary CT scanner within the hospital car park will have a temporary impact on parking, and limit availability of disabled parking, so we would very much like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this new scanner is put in place.”
