Northern Trust acknowledges work of medical imaging

Doctors and nurses tend to have a high profile in caring for patients in our acute hospitals, however they are supported in delivering care by a range of services and professions. 8 November is World Radiography Day and we would like to celebrate the contribution the medical imaging team – clinical radiologists, radiographers and medical physicists make to modern health care in the Northern Trust area, ensuring we give all our patients the best treatment.

In the Northern Trust radiographers perform, on average, 6000 diagnostic images every week or 300,000 per year, to help clinicians diagnose medical conditions and inform treatment plans. We have an MRI scanner in Antrim Area Hospital, CT scanners in Antrim, Mid Ulster and Causeway Hospitals and have multiple locations for ultrasound imaging throughout the Northern Trust area. Imaging services are provided 24/7 every day of the year. Radiologists are highly skilled and trained to interpret and report on these images including plain film x-rays, breast imaging, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRI and nuclear medicine.

Barry Patterson, Northern Trust Clinical Director said, “Over the last few years, the demand for high quality imaging services has seen very significant growth in nearly all areas. Diagnostics is essential to support our colleagues in general practice and acute hospital services and has become of primary importance in patient care. The traditional ‘x-ray’ that everyone is familiar remains essential but is only a small part of our modern imaging departments. Radiologists and radiographers now play a key role in the patient experience, whether interpreting imaging or increasingly performing diagnostic procedures such as image guided biopsies.

“Many radiographers now have enhanced roles in a specific field of imaging, performing many roles in the daily interface with patients – the commonest of these being abdominal ultrasound. This field of work is constantly evolving and up to date equipment is also essential in providing the best possible service.

“In 2016 a replacement MRI scanner was installed in Antrim Area Hospital and planning is underway for a second. Our staff also constantly update their skills and I would like to commend all our staff for their hard work.”

World Radiography Day is an annual event to promote radiography as a career, as a vital contribution to modern healthcare and as a chance to increase public awareness of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. For more information see www.sor.org/about-radiography/world-radiography-day.

9th November 2016