£1.4million investment in new CT scanners improves patient experience
Posted 20th September 2018
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre has invested £1.4 million in two new CT scanners to improve services and bring treatment closer to patients.
The investment has seen a brand new facility opened at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Aintree (pictured below), providing CT Radiotherapy planning scans and diagnostic CT scans at this site, for the first time.
The new machine in Wirral replaces an older model, giving patients access to the most up to date technology available.
A computerised tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
CT scans are used to diagnose conditions, including cancer. They can help determine the location, size and shape of a tumour before treatment and can monitor conditions, including checking the size of tumours during and after cancer treatment.
Julie Massey, General Manager of Radiation Services, said: “Investing in these new scanners means we are offering our patients Diagnostic CT and pre-treatment scans with the most advanced technology.
“For our patients in Aintree this will result in a much wider and improved service. Beforehand all patients had to attend our Wirral centre for Radiotherapy planning, the process which determines the volume of tissue and most appropriate radiotherapy technique for treatment.
“The introduction of the new service in Aintree means the majority of patients in north Merseyside will now be able to have their Radiotherapy planning determined at the centre, bringing Radiotherapy Planning closer to the patient, a key element of our aim to transform cancer care. This scanner is a replacement of one of the two scanners based at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, Wirral.
“The new CT scanner in Wirral is an illustration of our commitment to improve our care. We are always looking to the future to make sure we provide the best cancer care to the people we serve and this dual investment goes a long way to ensuring that.”
The newly refurbished facilities have been carefully designed to improve the patient experience.
Some patients who will attend Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Aintree will still be required to attend the Wirral site for Radiotherapy Planning, including those with head and neck cancer and certain prostate, lung and lymphoma cancer patients.
The introduction of the new CT scanners is a major investment by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Trust as they move forward with their plans to transform cancer care across the region.
A total £162 million investment will see an expansion of cancer services across the region with the development of a brand new cancer hospital in the heart of Liverpool, redevelopment of the Wirral site and further investment in Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Aintree.
