New X-ray unit delivers faster diagnoses for patients at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital

• Over half a million-pound investment
• Spire St Anthony’s Hospital delivers greater treatment choice and faster access to healthcare for NHS and private patients

Spire St Anthony’s Hospital has unveiled a new AGFA DX600 X-ray unit and room refurbishment worth over half a million pounds. The refurbishment will allow radiographers and consultants to speed up the diagnosis for patients with underlying health concerns. The fully digital X-ray unit will produce higher quality diagnostic images, whilst reducing the radiation dosage to the patient. It also provides the capability to perform full leg length and whole spine X-rays which have not been offered previously at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital. Both NHS and private patients will benefit from this new equipment, which will help alleviate some of the pressures on waiting lists and reduce waiting times in the local area.

The new X-ray unit is part of an ongoing investment to Spire St Anthony’s Hospital to install new equipment and improve patient comfort. X-rays performed with the AGFA DX600 unit cover all plain film imaging of the body including bone and joint imaging to diagnose fractures, dislocations, arthritis and bone infections; chest imaging to detect respiratory conditions such as pneumonia and lung tumours; and abdominal imaging to identify bowel obstructions, kidney stones and abnormal air patterns.

The new technology allows radiographers to alter the position of the X-ray tube from the control panel, which reduces the manual handling risk to staff as the requirements of physically moving the X-ray tube are reduced. Combining auto-positioning technology with the machines ability to X-ray quickly, allows an enhanced image quality, thus improving diagnosis and reducing the radiation dosage to patients.

The X-ray service currently operates seven days a week for inpatients and six days a week for outpatients between 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am-1pm on a Saturday.

New X-ray room featuring Radiology Team and Imaging Manager

Karin Paton, Radiology Manager at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital, said: “Thanks to our new AGFA DX600 X-ray unit, the system uses advanced image-stitching technology to enable us to capture full leg-length and whole spine images for the first time, opening the door to more accurate diagnoses and better outcomes for patients”.

Sue Holliday, Hospital Director at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital, said: “At Spire St Anthony’s Hospital, we are committed to ensuring our patients have fast access to diagnosis and outstanding personalised treatment when they need it. Investing in new X-ray equipment enables us to deliver the level of care our patients have come to expect.

We know that coming in for an examination can be a worrying time for patients. However, knowing they can be seen quickly, and be X-rayed with the latest technology will result in a quicker diagnosis which is what patients need and we’re pleased to be delivering that.”