The Golden Jubilee National Hospital has taken delivery of a new state-of-the-art Computer Tomography (CT) scanner to help further reduce waiting times across Scotland.

The new equipment will more than double CT capacity at the Clydebank hospital, with an extra 10,500 procedures planned in 2019/20 for orthopaedic, cardiothoracic, stroke and neurological patients, as well as those on a cancer treatment pathway.

The additional CT capacity was funded through the Scottish Government’s multi-million pound Waiting Times Improvement Plan and is up and running one week earlier than planned.

Between now and the end of March this year, more than 1,300 examinations will have been completed on the scanner for Scottish patients.

Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of the Golden Jubilee, said: “This additional CT scanner at the Golden Jubilee will make a significant difference to people from across Scotland.

“By working together with colleagues in other NHS Boards we can treat patients in line with the Treatment Time Guarantee and make sure services are tailored to meet the needs of patients and referring Board areas, delivering quality services across boundaries.

“This investment is great news for patients who will be seen quicker, allowing them to receive faster diagnosis and treatment, which will help improve the health of thousands every year throughout the country.”

The first of its kind in the United Kingdom, the scanner uses tablet-type technology to speed up procedures - allowing staff to spend more time with patients.

The new technology will mean patients need lower doses of radiation and take shorter breath-holds as image acquisition sequences are quicker, which can all result in faster scans.

Investment from the Scottish Government’s Waiting Times Improvement Plan will also enable Golden Jubilee specialists to carry out 200 more joint replacements, 600 eye procedures, 1200 scopes (endoscopy/colonoscopy) and 200 extra general surgery operations in 2019/2020.

The scanner will also support the hospital’s elective centres expansion programme.

During a visit to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman, said: “I’m pleased to announce the initial tranche of almost £27 million of the £850m funding from our Waiting Times Improvement Plan to health boards which will help improve performance with recruitment of additional nursing staff, new equipment, staff cover and further weekend and evening clinics.

“At the Golden Jubilee, the new CT scanner will produce additional scans for over 10,000 patients, meaning these people will have their diagnostic test results sooner.”

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