Capital Purchase Mobile Digital XRay System

Description

The funding is approved for a mobile x-ray machine that will be replacing the existing x-ray machine on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The existing machine provides plain film imaging for ill and/or premature babies on NICU. NICU has its own mobile x-ray unit to help reduce delays to urgent x-rays and reduce the risk of cross infection to this very vulnerable patient group. As this patient group is so vulnerable they rely very heavily on mobile imaging on the ward as the babies are too unstable to attend the Radiology departments.The existing machine was purchased by Noah's Ark in January 2018. At 8 years old, it is now reaching the end of its life expectancy. Components of this equipment will become increasingly more likely to fail, resulting in downtime and a compromised service. Technology has also advanced in the last 8 years, and newer equipment has additional features that will help with radiation dose optimisation. It is essential that doses are kept as low as possible for this patient group as children are particularly susceptible to the effects of radiation and have many years of life ahead of them. This patient group also often has frequent repeat imaging. Developments in technology have also led to improvements in image quality. Good image quality is vital in this patient group as some pathologies are very subtle. Difficulties in visualising some feeding tubes and lines have also been highlighted recently