A new Computerised Tomography (CT) scanner suite costing £2.9 million, with two state-of-the-art CT scanners, has been officially opened by Councillor Colin Belsey, Chairman of East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The suite includes a £500,000 state-of-the-art CT scanner generously funded by The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital.
Colin Belsey, Chairman of East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee with Harry Walmsley, Chairman Friends of Eastbourne Hospital. Dr Gillian Watson, Consultant Radiologist and Rebecca Ayling, CT Superintendent Radiographer
The two new CT scanners are very advanced, helping to support the widest variety of patients and applications, from complex trauma or cardiac cases to advanced imaging in stroke. They deliver a lower the radiation dose, provide high quality detailed images of internal organs, blood vessels and bones, and are more patient friendly.
The new CT scanner suite offers an enhanced patient experience along with improved privacy and dignity and better disabled access. Its proximity to the Emergency Department provides better access for patients and stroke patients attending the Stroke Unit. With two scanners together, rather than in separate areas of the hospital, there is now a more efficient use of the scanners helping to cope with rising demand.
Councillor Colin Belsey, Chairman of East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: “I was delighted to be invited to Eastbourne District General Hospital to officially open the CT scanner suite. Once again we see our local hospitals in East Sussex investing in the very latest equipment to help save lives. The ability of these machines to scan in a heartbeat is amazing. I would like to thank The Friends of Eastbourne Hospital, for their fantastic support in this project.”
Dr Gillian Watson, Consultant Radiologist said: “We were pleased Councillor Colin Belsey was able to officially open our new CT Scanner Suite. It marks a significant investment by the Trust in Radiology and the new CT scanners increase our diagnostic capabilities. Thanks go to the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital for their generous funding of one of the CT scanners.”
Harry Walmsley, Chairman Friends of Eastbourne Hospital said: “We are delighted to be able to fund a CT scanner. It is a massive donation from the Friends and is the culmination of one of our two major projects for 2017. It has only been made possible by the enormous generosity of local people and for that we are very appreciative and thankful.”
A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body including the internal organs, blood vessels and bones. It is predicted in 2018, 25,000 CT scans will be undertaken at the hospital, an increase on 22,250 scans in 2017 and significantly more than 17,000 in 2014.