Now hospital scan do it

The haematology and oncology ward, the cardiac investigation unit and day case ward and the mammography suite have been officially opened by Professor Alasdair Breckenridge CBE, regional chairman of the NHS Executive (North West office).

A sparkling blue and white sign marks the entrance to the brand new mammography suite which contains specialist diagnostic x-ray imaging and ultrasound equipment housed in a bright, airy room which has been converted from a former radiotherapy room.

Stewart Whiteley, radiology business manager at the hospital, was keen to stress the importance of this new facility.

He said: "The machine has actually been in use at the hospital housed in a different room since January and has already scanned 650 patients."

It is expected this development, which cost £260,000, will carry out around 1,600 examinations per year.

The haematology and oncology suite comprises a redesigned 18-bed ward complemented by an enlarged day unit and offers the opportunity for an extension of the transplant programme for blood malignancies, a service unique to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in the North West. Treatment of solid cancers will also be possible.

A number of complementary services, previously dispersed about the hospital, have been brought together with a new eight-bed day case ward to form the Cardiac Investigation Unit which also features a Medcon computer - the first in the UK - to record and store heart images.

Spokesman David Lee commented: "The trust was pleased that Professor Breckenridge had accepted its invitation to carry out the official openings.

"He was accompanied around the hospital by Barry Fothergill, chair of the trust, who paid tribute to local fundraisers throughout the Fylde without whose generosity some important features contained in the schemes would not have been possible."

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