Nuffield Health Tees Hospital has invested a six-figure sum to buy new cancer screening equipment, which will improve care for patients undergoing breast cancer tests.
The not-for-profit hospital has spent £300,000 in total, including £140,000 on a state-of-the-art digital mammogram machine.
Radiology manager Nicola Gregson-Maidwell said: “Because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, we can plough all of our profits back into patient care here at Nuffield Tees.
“This new equipment will make a huge difference to the experience patients have at what can be an incredibly worrying time in their lives.”
The mammography machine uses soft paddles so is more comfortable for patients along with providing a quicker examination.
Nicola added: “It gives a much quicker, smoother patient journey, using intelligent detectors to give a more accurate diagnosis. The images we get are of the highest quality and we can see them on-the-spot so we can be with the patient all of the time. There’s no leaving the room for a few minutes to process images, giving them an anxious wait. It even has soft mood lighting to provide a calmer experience.”
As well as the mammography equipment, Nuffield Tees has also purchased a new Ultrasound scanner, which can capture high-quality 3D images of internal organs in seconds.
Hospital director Lesley Lock said: “We are totally dedicated to providing the very best patient experience possible so we’re absolutely thrilled to have taken delivery of such up-to-the-minute technology.
“Every pound we make is invested into new equipment, staff, services and facilities so we can provide the most advanced care possible for our patients and their families.”