Yeovil Hospital gets brand new CT scanner

Patients who need a scan at Yeovil Hospital's radiology department are benefiting from shorter waits, thanks to the introduction of a brand new CT scanner.

Computerised tomography (CT) is used for many reasons at the hospital, mainly for patients who are staying in hospital overnight, but they can also be used for outpatient appointments too. It can also be used to scan patients who’ve come through our emergency department, such as trauma patients or those who’ve had a stroke.

A CT scanner produces high resolution cross-sectional images across many parts of the body, giving doctors quick access to important information they need to make a medical diagnosis.

Katie Howells, interim site lead for radiology at Yeovil Hospital, says everyone in the department is pleased with the new CT scanner, especially as the previous one was starting to show its age.

“Our previous CT scanner served us well and has been workhorse over the years, but it was clear that it was getting old as the time to process scans was becoming longer.

“This meant that we were prioritising specific types of examinations into our other newer scanner, so we very much lost the flexibility of where were able to scan.

“We use our CT scanners to image very unwell patients from our critical care unit and trauma patients, as well as those with suspected strokes or brain haemorrhages, so it was crucial that we had a scanner that was able to cope with this demand.

“When we have less flexibility, it can have a knock on effect on the time patients need to wait for a scan, which is far from ideal.

“We mitigated against that by not doing all types of examinations in the older CT scanner, but this new scanner gives us that extra flexibility, meaning we have a much-improved workflow, so we can actively manage our patients.

“It means our clinicians will be able to access their patients’ scans quicker, with the best quality imaging, which is something we’re always striving for, as it gives us the best chance of a correct diagnosis.

“It also improves the general arrangements for when a patient comes down to the unit for their scan, because we now have flexibility, so we can assign patients evenly between the scanners.

“We’ve adjusted the layout of our CT scanning room too, which has also opened up more flexibility, as previously it was not as easy to visualise our ventilated patients and equipment, but the new reconfiguration makes this much easier.

“The changes have gone down well with colleagues on the whole, who’ve said they find it easier to navigate around the larger room, and it’s also a better use of the space.

“Overall, it’s great news for our patients and another example of investment in Yeovil Hospital."