Radiology

Introduction

The Cheltenham department provides services to the populations of East Gloucestershire, together with some work for adjoining geographic areas. There is a major commitment to cancer imaging for the on-site 3 Counties Cancer Centre. Interventional cardiology (diagnostic and therapeutic) is located within the department.

There is a county-wide GE PACS supported by HSS RIS, with Cheltenham Radiology acting as a hub for the remote sites on the eastern half of the county. These systems were supplied as a part of the Connecting for Health program so are the common platform across the Southern Cluster group.

Equipment

The equipment we have available within the Department consists of: -

• CT x 2 Multi-slice systems (4 & 32 slice with cardiac capability)
• MRI 1.5 Tesla GE
• Interventional Toshiba ‘C’ arm installed 2005
• Digital Fluoroscopy
• 4 Ultrasound rooms new scanner soon
• Nuclear medicine – 2 γ cameras
• Recently commissioned DR room
• Current build for additional DR room (delivery early 2007)
• 2 x dedicated Cardiac investigation and intervention rooms

Services

Radiology services are provided for a wide range of specialities, with inpatient, day-case and outpatient facilities. These include general and vascular surgery, urology, orthopaedics, oral & maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, ENT, ophthalmology, general medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, obstetrics, rheumatology, clinical oncology and clinical haematology.

There is also service provision for general practice, much of it on an open access basis. Multidisciplinary meetings (including cancer MDTs) take place on a weekly basis and in which trainees are encouraged to actively participate.

Examinations

During 2004/5 approximately 116 000 examinations (983 700A equivalent Korner units) were undertaken in the department.

Total CT examinations were 14 500, of which 4000 were on oncology patients. CT guided lung tumour biopsies are perfomed weekly.

4000 MRI examinations were carried out, of which 1000 were on orthopaedic patients and 600 for oncology.

A total of 11 000 non-obstetric ultrasound examinations were undertaken. There is a weekly session dedicated to Ultrasound guided intervention.

Fluroscopic guided intervention includes both diagnostic and therapeutic vascular procedures with cases discussed at a weekly Clinico radiological meeting. Regular Urological procedures are performed including nephrostomies and antegrade ureteric stent insertion.

There are approximately 1900 Nuclear Medicine examinations performed each year. There is opportunity for trainees to gain experience in PET/CT which is performed at a nearby facility.

Our Staff

Existing Consultant Staff with PA commitments and special interests (in descending order of preference) are as below: -

* Clinical Tutor for Postgraduate Department
** Royal College of Radiologists Breast Imaging Group Professor 2007
Clinical Director
*** Commitment to Breast Screening Service as Clinical Director.

There are 52 WTE radiographers, 7 WTE radiography helpers and 245 WTE clerical staff working in the departments and adequate nursing cover is shared with the on-site cardiac facility.

Teaching, Research, Audit & Quality

There is a programme of regular postgraduate meetings. Teaching is offered to registrars on both a formal and informal basis. There are opportunities to be involved with teaching of junior medical staff as well as medical students from the University of Bristol.

Registrar trainees are encouraged to perform an audit study during their placement. There are also good opportunities for participation in publication work.

Further Information

• Cheltenham Doctor Leads the Way in Breast Cancer Care
  February 2007 Press Release