New Southampton cardiac treatment centre opened by Team GB Olympic gold medallist, Lola Anderson

• Spire Southampton is first UK private hospital to be equipped with Siemens AI-enabled cath lab
•  Technology speeds up procedure time while improving imagery and precision

People in Southampton and surrounding areas with cardiac and vascular health issues can now access the very latest AI-enabled treatment, following the opening of a new state-of-the-art cath lab by Olympic gold medallist rower, Lola Anderson.

The cardiac catheterization laboratory will be staffed by expert cardiac consultants at Spire Southampton Hospital who use advanced imaging and thin, flexible tubes called catheters to diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions.

The first AI technology of this type to be installed in a UK private hospital adjusts image quality in real time and reduces ‘noise’ to deliver higher resolution images, enabling doctors to provide precise and minimally invasive care to patients. The AI also reduces the radiation dosage required by around 80% and speeds up the scanning process.

Lola Anderson cuts the ribbon at Spire Southampton's new cardiac treatment centre.

Dr John Rawlins, Interventional Cardiologist, Spire Southampton Hospital, said:

“We’re delighted to work in partnership with Siemens to be able to deliver world-class cutting-edge facilities to Spire Southampton. The investment by Spire, will allow us to treat more patients with a wide range of complex conditions using the best available equipment.”

The new lab was opened by Team GB Olympic gold medallist rower, Lola Anderson, who said:

“Many people experience cardiac health challenges, and access to expert healthcare and the latest technology can make a significant difference, so it was a real privilege to open this new cath lab facility which will provide state-of-the art treatment to Southampton.”

Spire Healthcare is Team GB Official Healthcare Services Partner.

The latest Siemens ARTIS icono imaging platform includes the following benefits:

• Deep learning technology optimises image contrast and performs real-time noise reduction. It delivers razor-sharp visibility regardless of body thickness or angle.
• Ultra-Fast 3D imaging executes CT spins in just 2.5 seconds at the head and 4 seconds for the body minimising motion artifacts (movement/breathing) and dramatically shortening overall procedure times. This hyper-fast execution also cuts down the amount of contrast dye injected into the patient, reducing kidney strain.
• Automated, AI-assisted positioning algorithms minimise manual setup, speeding up case transitions and allowing consultants to treat more patients per day.
• The technology automatically calculates the minimum X-ray dose needed for crystal-clear images based on patient size, drastically minimising radiation exposure while maintaining high-quality tracking.