Health Service Focus

Enhanced patient comfort with manoeuvrable x-ray technology

Julia Matheson, modality team leader in the X-ray department at Haywood Community Hospital in Staffordshire, explains how a new X-ray system is providing benefits to both patients and radiographers. David Stevenson reports.

Haywood Community Hospital, a specialist rheumatology hospital and walk-in centre, has become the first in the UK to install an Ysio Max digital radiography system. 

The technology uses the advanced imaging technology capabilities of MAX (Multiple Advances in X-ray) detectors, which are said to “maximise performance” and ensure flexibility and workflow. 

It was installed by Siemens Healthcare, which has introduced its lightest wireless detector with a handle, MAX wi-D, which is designed to help improve access to patients for radiographers. 

Julia Matheson, modality team leader in the X-ray department at the hospital, told NHE that her team had already been using Siemens technology, and were happy with the equipment and performance level. 

“However, we were made aware of this smaller, lighter detector, which came as part of the new equipment,” she said. “Although we were used to using a wi-fi detector with the old Ysio system, this was quite an exciting opportunity for us because it was much more manoeuvrable for the patients that we X-rayed.” 

The new system, installed in October 2014, takes the same high-quality images as the department’s previous technology and fits in with its Siemens PACS sub-system. 

Although Haywood Hospital itself is run by Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust, the X-ray service provided from the hospital is run by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.  

Although the service operates primarily as a walk-in centre, it does also deal with patients from seven wards. “We do have some patients who are bedridden or can’t move very well, and we also provide a service to the rheumatology clinics,” Matheson said. 

“With this smaller, lighter detector it gives these patients a real benefit. They don’t have to get into positions that are uncomfortable for the procedure. Prior to this, they may have had to reach positions that weren’t, potentially, as comfortable. 

“In some instances the new system can also be slightly quicker for some examinations.” 

The rheumatology centre has an active research team known nationally and internationally for its work. It treats patients from north Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Cheshire, with a catchment area of over 500,000. 

Matheson told us that her team are dedicated to providing the latest technology for patients, ensuring that innovative medical research can continue to take place. 

The Ysio Max also has a high-weight capacity table, allowing radiographers to examine a range of patients from head to toe without repositioning. 

On an average day the radiography department at Haywood, which has two examination rooms, is responsible for imaging more than 100 patients. 

Increased patient demand over winter prompted the department to extend its opening hours to 10.30pm. “This was to support the walk-in centre patients and to take pressure off our main emergency centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital,” said Matheson. “The new equipment has had a knock-on effect there and made us quite efficient, and has helped us during a very busy time.” 

A second Ysio Max has now been installed at one of the region’s other sites: County Hospital, Stafford. Asked how involved Haywood had been with this, Matheson said: “Staff from the County Hospital came to look at our equipment prior to their installation. They could see the system live and in action. 

“I’m sure there are other areas that are having the system installed. And I think this will be a very popular system across the NHS. The proof is in the pudding. As a busy hospital, it is essential that we have confidence in the systems we use to produce timely and accurate results; the new system provides this confidence and has met all of our expectations to date.” 

Staff have commented on the system’s ease-of-use and excellent applications training.

(Image: The full team of Haywood's X-Ray department. Julia Matheson

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