New X-ray equipment making life easier for patients and staff at Horton hospital

The machine will improve image quality and reduce patient radiation dosage and can automatically move between lying and standing patient positions – reducing the risks to staff from manually manoeuvring it.

The equipment also makes life easier for patients as the wireless digital plates used to record images can be moved around the room.

So patients can be scanned on trolleys where necessary, reducing the need to use a computed radiography system or to transfer immobilised patients onto the X-ray examination couch.

The new equipment's room has been given a facelift, including new flooring, a new ceiling, new lighting, a new ventilation system, new X-ray doors with integrated warning signs, and a complete redecoration.

The improvements were funded as part of £3.2 million from the Department of Health and Social Care to upgrade wards and emergency departments.

In September 2018, the Government announced that the NHS nationally was to receive £145m in emergency funding to make improvements.

Andrew Robinson, radiology manager at the Horton, said: “We’re really pleased that this new piece of equipment is up and running.

“The new machine takes fantastic quality images, and the fact that it can reposition itself makes things much easier for our staff.

"X-ray equipment is often heavy and cumbersome, but this new equipment moves automatically – improving conditions for our radiographers.

“Also, if a patient comes into our emergency department and needs an X-ray, if they’re in a lot of pain or can’t move very easily, we can use the new digital plate underneath their trolley and take an image from there.

“The X-ray room looks much better than it did before. It’s lighter, fresher, more spacious, and a better place for patients and staff.”