New NOC X-ray rooms unveiled

Patients can now be x-rayed more quickly and accurately following the renovation of four digital x-ray rooms at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC), part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH).

 

The £3.2 million project, including the installation of new x-ray machines, modernises the four ageing rooms, enhancing patient care and providing a better working environment for staff.

 

The new equipment is fully digital which means examination time is quicker, radiation doses are lower, and the image quality is much improved.

 

There is also a room for children with jungle scene artwork, and another room that has a Radcliffe Camera view.

 

Becky Mann, Site Lead for NOC Radiology at OUH, said: "This newly refurbished space will significantly improve the way in which we work, speeding up and increasing the imaging capability of the team and providing a nicer working environment.

 

"The team are really pleased with the new x-ray equipment, and patients will benefit from a much smoother x-ray journey."

 

The rooms were formally opened by Helen Scarfe, a previous Radiology Manager at the NOC, earlier this month (March).

 

She said: "The new x-ray equipment for all four rooms brings them up to the highest modern standards with the installation of a Siemens Ysio Max machine and the doubling of the number of digital rooms available on site.

 

"This advanced digital equipment has increased the precision and speed of examinations, providing radiographers’ access to unique automation and positioning features to obtain consistently high-quality images.

 

"Crucially, this state-of-the-art equipment enables the x-ray team to provide a full repertoire of scans to patients, including the ability to perform specialist imaging such as leg lengths and whole spine imaging.

 

"Waiting times will be reduced, and both patients and staff are delighted with this investment in orthopaedic services."

 

The Radiology team, who image more than 100 patients a day, support musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatients and rheumatology, and provide inpatient x-rays. The new rooms can perform all x-ray examinations, but the team’s focus is specialist MSK imaging.

 

Felicity Taylor-Drewe, Chief Operating Officer at OUH, said: "The renovation of the x-ray rooms will not only improve the efficiency of our services but also enhance the overall patient experience. We are proud to offer these advanced facilities to our community."

 

Mark Holloway, Chief Estates and Facilities Officer at OUH, said: "This was a complex project as we were doing the renovations and installing new equipment alongside the radiology team’s daily appointments and patient care.

 

"It is so rewarding to see that this has made such an impactful improvement to the patients’ experience and staff’s working environment."