The impact of COVID-19 on diagnostic imaging at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust has increased demand for chest CT scans, created a backlog of routine patient scans and increased the time needed to clean CT rooms between patients. It is estimated that an extra 62 hours of CT scanning time is required each week.
To meet demand, NHS England has allocated Stratford Hospital one of 15 specially commissioned relocatable Canon Medical Systems CT Scan Units. The cost has been met by NHS England and NHS Improvement’s COVID-19 recovery fund, with installation, staffing and maintenance met by the trust for the 18-month period.
Trust director of operations Helen Lancaster said: “We are thrilled to be allocated this capital resource by NHS England and NHS Improvement. Year-on-year demand for CT scans has grown significantly and is unlikely to decrease given the changes required in cancer pathways and diagnostic techniques. With the added considerable impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the trust’s capacity to perform many diagnostic procedures, the implementation of the CT scanner is significant in ensuring our patients are seen and treated as soon as possible.”
The CT Scan Unit is an easily transportable temporary scanning facility featuring Aquilion CT scanner, control room and patient changing area. Designed and made in the UK by Canon Medical Systems as a direct response to the crisis, the units can be easily deployed to hospital sites on the back of a lorry and sited in car parks. The scanner includes InnerVision remote diagnostics software that can predict, diagnose or fix system issues without the need for engineers to visit.
A Canon Medical CT Scan Unit has been deployed to Stratford Hospital.
Picture: A Canon Medical CT Scan Unit has been deployed to Stratford Hospital.
Published on page 14 of the September 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.