Whittington welcomes new CT scanner

The new diagnostic machine has been named after Godfrey Hounsfield, an instrumental figure in the development of the CT scanner

Whittington Hospital has welcomed the arrival of a “state of the art” computer tomography (CT) scanner

Retiring an older model that had served the community for many years, the Holloway hospital’s new scanner will help to enhance patient care and diagnostic accuracy, with features that prioritise patient comfort.

One of the innovative features of the new scanner is its remote operation capability via an iPad, allowing a technician to stay in the room with the patient much longer before leaving to operate the scan from a control room.

The accuracy of CT scans relies on the patient remaining relaxed and still so a technician’s presence in the room can go a long way to help ease the anxiety of nervous patients, patients with learning disabilities, or young children.

Additionally, the scanner is equipped with a breath monitoring function that optimises the timing of scans according to the patient’s breathing, ensuring clearer and more accurate images.

Music can now also be played in the room, so a patient will be able to tune out the sounds of the machine, which can be noisy and distracting, and a fake skylight on the ceiling helps to give the illusion the patient is lying on a sunny tropical island.

The new equipment is crucial for patients requiring urgent diagnostic procedures at Whittington Hospital’s busy emergency department. It was officially opened for business by Whittington Health NHS Trust’s acting chief executive, Dr Clare Dollery, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony, during which the CT scanner’s name, chosen by staff through a naming competition, was announced.

While ‘Scanny McScanFace’ was a popular choice, the name Godfrey was ultimately selected to honour Godfrey Hounsfield, who was instrumental figure in the development of the CT scanner.

Dr Dollery said, “Our new state-of-the-art CT scanner reflects our commitment to improving services and ensuring the highest standard of medical care for our community.

“At Whittington Health, excellence in patient care isn’t just about advanced technology; it’s also about creating a holistic environment, which is why we also took the opportunity to refurbish the area around the CT scanner to create a calmer, more comforting space for our patients.”

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