Hinchingbrooke’s new state-of-the-art CT scanner is the only one in the country – and Peterborough NHS patients get to use it
A brand new, state-of-the-art CT scanner has just arrived at Hinchingbrooke Hospital which is the first of its type in the UK.
The next generation equipment – called a GE Vibe scanner – is an AI-powered CT scanner that takes cardiovascular imaging to the next level.
Its main benefit will be to patients who normally have to use beta blocker drugs to slow down their heart rate in order to obtain clear imaging.
By delivering high-resolution, low-dose scans in a single heartbeat, the GEV is able to conduct a scan without the patient needing to take any beta blockers at all.
Funding for the new model, which was provided through the Fit for the Future NHS England programme, has allowed the hospital to replace its previous scanner which was 11 years old.
Hinchingbrooke Hospital, along with Peterborough City Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital, is part of North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAFT).
Depending on their needs, Peterborough-based patients often find themselves making use of the varying different services offered across the three hospitals
Emily Taylor Neale, who is Principal Operational CT Radiographer at NWAFT, said the new scanner is likely to have a big impact on the services Hinchingbrooke will be able to provide to patients across the region:
“This fantastic new CT scanner will streamline the way we work, enabling us to see more patients and hopefully reduce waiting times,” she said.
“Our imaging team at Hinchingbrooke carried out 27,048 CT scans last year, illustrating just how vital CT scanning is,” she added.
“Overall, it will very much improve patient experience.”