A new Interventional Radiology suite within the Radiology Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital will help reduce the number of scans that patients need before a procedure.
The facility’s completion has involved remodelling of the area and the installation of a new Siemens Artis Q C-arm, described by the manufacturer as ‘a state-of-the-art X-ray machine which delivers improved levels of image quality with a reduced radiation dose’. Steve Roberts, Radiology Services Manager at the hospital, said: “The redevelopment of the Interventional Radiology area, together with the installation of this new equipment, will make a massive difference to all our patients who use our Interventional Radiology service.”
New software included with the system will reduce the need for patients to undergo additional CT or MRI imaging prior to an operation, as previous scans can be imported into the new system and used to guide the interventional radiologists during procedures. Vicky Jackson, Interventional Radiology Service lead, said: “The new equipment will benefit patients across sub-specialities, delivering vascular angioplasty locally – a procedure to restore blood flow to the arteries, supporting the orthopaedic service with pain-relieving joint injections, providing cardiac pacemaker insertions, and a full spectrum of acute intervention services for urology and gastro patients. We would like to thank the Intervention Radiology and wider radiology teams for continuing to provide services during the substantial period of building works.”
The new Artis C-arm is part of a multi-million-pound equipment replacement programme, funded by Welsh Government, that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is carrying out within the radiology service across North Wales, which includes X-ray rooms, scanners, and ultrasound machines. The hospital has also recently installed a new modular MRI scanner outside the Radiology Department. The new modular building is fully equipped with an advanced MRI scanner. The scanner will be on site for six months, and will help provide MRI capacity whilst the existing scanner is upgraded, and will increase scanning capacity to reduce waiting lists and speed up diagnosis and treatment.
Earlier this year the Radiology Department also received a new gamma camera, which replaced an old imaging device, and offers has faster scan times, clearer images, and a lower radiation dose.
