Nuffield Health Hereford’s radiology department refurbishment enables bedside ultrasound

Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital has opened its refurbished radiology department, featuring a newly installed x-ray room, Fujifilm diagnostics equipment, an ultrasound suite and a portable GE HealthCare ultrasound machine.

The equipment will provide improved techniques for MSK steroid injections through x-ray and ultrasound-guided methods for patients experiencing significant joint pain. It will assist in the administration of local anaesthetic when diagnosing and treating joint arthritis and tendonitis in the shoulder, hip and knees.

A new portable ultrasound machine gives patients the flexibility of staying in their hospital bed while a scan is performed. The machine provides real-time imaging that can be used to accurately guide diagnostic and therapeutic injections into joints and soft tissues. “People will benefit when they are referred to us for MSK ultrasound as the new portable ultrasound equipment has a higher axial resolution than an MRI and is therefore better to assess soft tissue abnormalities such as tendon tears,” said health systems director Richard Wells. “Keeping our hospital services at the very forefront for our patients and employees is something we’re extremely passionate about. We’ll be celebrating 50 years as a hospital in May, so this investment really demonstrates our commitment and ambition for the upcoming years.”

The hospital also specialises in radiology services, orthopaedics, urology, dermatology, women’s healthcare and diagnostics. It is part of the Nuffield Health healthcare charity, with a network of connected hospitals, fitness and wellbeing centres, healthcare clinics and workplace wellbeing services across the UK.

Lead picture: In front are radiology manager Louisa Billington, senior radiographer Wendy Whittall, radiographer Emmanuelle Del Cielo Garcia and radiology assistant Katie Walker. Behind them are director of operations Dan Price, retired radiographer Janice Jones, consultant radiologist Dr Aamer Iqbal, health system director Richard Wells, director of clinical services Lizzie Green, senior sonographer Elizabeth Craven and consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Matthew Oakley.

Published on page 8 of the February 2024 issue of RAD Magazine.