Basildon’s IR suite is ready for out-of-hours service

A new interventional radiology hub has been created at Basildon Hospital to offer out-of-hours emergency care for patients across mid and south Essex, avoiding the need for them to be transferred out of the area for treatment.

The IR suite is equipped with a state-of-the-art, floor-mounted Siemens Healthineers Artis pheno and has a dedicated six-bed recovery area.

The Artis pheno comprises the full range of combined applications to reduce exposure (CARE), allowing optimum imaging at low radiation doses while reducing contrast. The system has DynaCT cone beam CT technology to create 3D volumes and cross-sectional 3D images of soft tissue; Embolization Guidance – the ability to add coloured vessel overlay graphics to user-defined vessel segments to delineate vessels and allow accurate measurements and improved visualisation; and 3D Needle Guidance – the ability to overlay a 3D volume such as CT or MRI on a live fluoroscopy image allowing precision on guided access.

The suite also incorporates a Siemens Acuson Freestyle ultrasound platform with wireless transducers, the RaySafe application to display real-time radiation doses to staff and a wireless Accutron HP-D integrated contrast injector for flexibility and user ease.

With the new facility Basildon Hospital will be able to meet the increasing demand for an out-of-hours, seven-day service for the first time in the region.

Picture: Siemens Healthineers applications specialist Andy Draper, clinical lead for interventional radiology Dr Jeremy Rabouhans, advanced practitioner reporting radiographer Dan Clary, lead radiographer for interventional imaging Hugh Kemp and senior cardiac and interventional radiographer Jess Coles.

Published on page 4 of the May 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.