CDC model delivers front-line CT capacity for Victoria Infirmary

Victoria Infirmary community diagnostic centre (CDC) in Northwich has enabled more patients in Cheshire to be seen for quick front-line diagnostic imaging, reducing waiting times and freeing up pressure on other acute hospital scanners. In less than a year, thousands more patients have attended for CT scans and other tests, reducing the need for multiple attendances at different hospital locations.

The modular CT facility has been fully integrated by Canon Medical Systems UK into the existing listed building. The turnkey project involved creating the additional CT scanning facility by demolishing an old casualty department, knocking through and adding an integrated modular building containing an AI-assisted Aquilion Prime SP CT scanner.

Victoria Infirmary general manager Karen Bowman said: “Two thousand outpatient, follow-up or high risk query CT scans have been enabled in nine months due to the creation of the CDC. This means more people have been seen sooner than would have been previously possible. We are even calling people to arrange CT scans on the same day they have seen their GP. The dedicated CDC also means that the pressure burden on our acute hospital scanners at Leighton Hospital has been relieved. That’s thousands of CT appointments removed from our front-line acute scanners, giving them the dedicated focus they need for emergency or advanced imaging such as cardiac and CT colonoscopy.

“We’re now seeing happy, grateful patients and this has had a direct impact on our radiology team, increasing morale with reduced pressure.”

CDC imaging lead Michael Potts added: “Canon Medical worked closely with us on the modular building and kept construction noise and disturbance on the hospital site to a minimum. The Aquilion Prime SP CT scanner will be our fourth Canon Medical scanner at the trust and it keeps meeting our expectations. It brings the renowned Advanced Intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AICE) for phenomenal image quality at low dose and high speed, plus provides additional advanced applications that help with clinical procedures.”

Picture: General manager Karen Bowman and CDC imaging lead Michael Potts with the Aquilion Prime SP CT system.

Published on page 4 of the May 2023 issue of RAD Magazine.