Super scanner fantastic for expert diagnosis

PUSHING the boundaries of science . . . senior radiographer Sue Clegg tending a patient on the scanner, with radiology superintendent, Andrew Green and Dr Samy Jeyagopal, site lead for radiology

AROUND 4,500 patients a year are set to benefit from a new magnetic resonance (MR) scanner at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

The state-of-the art equipment has been installed at the hospital in a £1 million project to replace a 10-year-old scanner.

Housed in the X-ray department, the new scanner will widen the scope of examinations, and scans will be carried out at more than twice the speed. The machine will be used to carry out whole body and breast scans, to diagnose and monitor cancers, and for vascular, orthopaedic and neurological conditions.

It means patients who previously had to travel to Rochdale Infirmary or North Manchester General Hospital can now be scanned in Oldham.

Dr Samy Jeyagopal, site lead for radiology at The Royal Oldham Hospital, said: “We have invested over £1million and the scanner is one of the world’s leading systems in its class.

“The radiography staff have all commented that the equipment is a pleasure to use and the speed of it means that we can undertake more examinations.” He added: “We are already increasing the number of patients scanned day by day and the quality of the pictures of our initial scans is outstanding.

“It is almost as good as looking at a text book.

“This means that patients will have more accurate and quicker diagnosis, which in turn will lead to quicker treatment and follow-up procedures.”