Good Hope Hospital will be showcasing its new radiology facilities with latest scanning technology on 11 December. The event will be opened by Free Radio presenter, Russ Morris.
The Hospital has invested over £1.5 million in modernised technology and rennovated areas of the radiology department including a new state-of-the-art CT scanner. This scanner will improve patients’ experience through faster scanning, reduced exposure to radiation and more efficient diagnosis through clearer images.
Approximately 13,000 patients per year have a CT scan at Good Hope to diagnose and monitor a variety of health conditions including cancer.
Theresa Hull, radiographer at Good Hope said: “We’re very pleased with this new investment in technology, which will give patients a quicker, more comfortable experience and look forward to opening the doors to staff; local GPs and the public to come ans see what facilities we have to offer in the radiology department.”
Sports stars joined the nationally-acclaimed HIV service at Heartlands Hospital in a double celebration of its 20th anniversary and World AIDS Day.
Olympic bronze medal-winning hockey player, Sally Walton, and the Hospital’s own HIV dietitian and British Power Lifting Champion, Jordana Freemantle, released 50 red balloons containing messages on Friday 30 November, the day before national World AIDS Day. Continuing the ‘positively red’ theme, a red double-decker bus was parked outside the HIV department as a base for celebrations, information and advice.
Focus for this year’s World AIDS Day campaign is on reducing the stigma which can still dissuade people from taking a test. Testing is crucial in diagnosing HIV, helping people onto today’s life-saving treatments, and preventing further transmission. One in four of those living with HIV in the UK do not know they are infected, one in five are aged over 50 and around 3,000 heterosexual people test positive each year.
Dr Steve Taylor, lead HIV specialist at Birmingham Heartlands HIV service, said: “We aim to raise awareness of HIV in the city and encourage people to get tested regularly. Getting tested has never been easier – you can visit many sexual health centres and receive the results on the same day. Alternatively, any GP practice can offer HIV testing.”
Heart of England Foundation Trust health promotion specialist, Jodie Smith, said: “The number of recorded HIV infections in the UK continues to rise. Many more people remain undiagnosed because they don’t consider themselves to be at risk, due to their age or lifestyle choices.”
