News

Hospital unveils special artwork

mural-31-260x300Art is on the agenda at Solihull Hospital as it unveiled a mural designed and painted by talented students from Light Hall School.

The 9 year 11 students spent one afternoon per week after school for six months working on the mural, which features a panoramic arctic scene painted in acrylic and is now installed in the Hospital’s radiology department.

Gill Tomlinson, superintendent radiographer at the Hospital, said: “A lot effort and work has been put in by the students, which they did after the normal school day, and the resulting mural is wonderful. We are extremely grateful for the donation and it looks great in its new home.”

“Visitors can often feel apprehensive about visiting hospital which is why creating a positive and attractive environment, through the use of art-work; can be really beneficial to patients, staff and visitors.”

If you are an artist interested in how your work can benefit the Hospital, please contact Janet Pratt

Hospital Scanner is First in the Region

Heartlands-Hospital-scanner-pic-two1Heartlands Hospital is celebrating the arrival of a new scanner, the first of its kind in the region and only the second to be installed in the NHS. The new CT scanner, known as a Toshiba Aquilion One 320 Slice, has the ability to scan an entire body part in one rotation and in less than a second. This is a fraction of the time compared to previously available CT scanners, resulting in the patient’s investigation being completed more quickly, and radiologists able to access the scan results within seconds for a faster diagnosis.

The CT scanner also offers the lowest radiation dose available to patients, along with providing a very high scan quality. For use in examining all the major body parts and imaging whole organs in real time, it is expected to revolutionise the means of treating patients, especially those with chest pain and stroke.

Dr Madava Djearaman, Heartlands consultant cardiothoracic radiologist said:

“This cutting edge technology will enable us to offer patients the best quality of care by improving diagnostic accuracy, particularly for patients arriving at the Hospital with symptoms of chest pain. As the scanner works more efficiently than previous scanners, we are also already seeing a steady increase in the amount of patients we are able to see and treat per day.”

Dr Lowri Morus, clinical director of radiology said:

“At a cost of just over £2m, the scanner represents a substantial financial investment in radiology services and demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to providing a world class service to the patients of the region.”

The radiology department at Heartlands has also benefited from a new, dedicated CT suite, housing its two CT scanners back to back, as well as improved patient reception and waiting areas.