Lancashire Teaching Hospitals to launch GBP13 million scheme to speed up NHS imaging services

Preston 04 January 2007A GBP13 million project to create a digital imaging system, which will help speed up diagnosis and treatment for patients, has been launched at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) will spell the end for x-ray film as Chorley and South Ribble and Royal Preston Hospitals adopt digital technology which can provide high quality x-rays and radiological images, such as CT scans.

PACS will capture, store and display radiographic images and doctors will be able to accurately view the images on computers at the touch of a button.

Professor Jonathan Hill, Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director of Imaging and Diagnostic Services, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, stated: "PACS provides a means of delivery of medical images and reports to the referring clinicians in a more rapid format. Images should no longer be mislaid as they lie within the computer system. All clinicians involved in a patient's case will be able to access images on computers which will ensure that consultants and doctors have the images they need to hand to help review a case or aid them during a consultation."

Ian Harris, Consultant Radiologist, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: "Viewing x-rays on the computer will bring a huge range of benefits. It will be possible to compare and monitor changes more closely. Subtle abnormalities will be easier to see as sections of the images can be highlighted or enlarged."

"Images and results will be viewable from anywhere across the two hospital sites on mobile, wall mounted and networked PC's which will be sited on wards, in outpatients departments, in x-ray facilities plus in accident and emergency and theatres", he continued.

PACS will become operational by the end of April 2007.

Leslie Versweyveld

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