The Portland Hospital gets state of the art CT scanner for children

Latest low dose scanning technology builds on the hospital’s comprehensive paediatric acute service

The Portland Hospital for Women and Children has now commissioned its new 128 slice low dose CT scanner, one of the first of its kind in the private sector.

The new scanner, which cost over £1 million to install, completes a major expansion and upgrading of the hospital’s diagnostic and imaging department.

The Siemens SOMATOM Definition AS+ machine is faster than previous models and this helps to simplify previously lengthy and complex scanning procedures and produces better quality images at the same time.

Lucy Hall, Imaging Services Manager at The Portland, said the new machine had transformed the capabilities of the hospital’s expanding paediatric department. “Our CT service now has the capability and back-up to carry out all contrast and unenhanced studies on both children and adults with the additional option of scanning children under a general anaesthetic,” she said.

“The new scanner is located right next door to our MRI room and this allows us to offer both cross-sectional modalities to our patients in one location. The new CT machine means that we can now offer a comprehensive paediatric diagnostic imaging service along with MRI, ultrasound, plain film radiography, fluoroscopy and interventional radiology,” she said.

Scanning protocols for the new machine are the same as those used in London’s renowned NHS Children’s teaching hospitals.

The introduction of this latest CT technology complements the many other recent developments at The Portland including the new Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The hospital, which already has an international reputation for its world class acute and tertiary medicine, is unique in the UK private sector having a comprehensive acute paediatric care service, including imaging and diagnostics, complex surgery, critical care and a paediatric neuro rehabilitation unit.