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New cutting-edge cardiology machines at Watford General Hospital are set to provide faster and more precise diagnoses for heart patients.
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the first trusts in the country to use these machines which provide enhanced 3D images of the heart. The Philips Echo allows echocardiology clinicians to see the patient’s heart in more detail and check for anomalies.
Lead imaging consultant at Watford General Dr Piyush Jain said: “It is a major achievement to get two state-of-the-art machines and dedicated training for our team. These machines are the future of echocardiology as they provide us with high-resolution three-dimensional images of the heart.
“We are one of the few trusts in the country with this equipment and it will add tremendous value to our department. It is excellent for our patients to be able to access such services locally.”
Images scanned by the machine show the heart’s structure and its functions, from which the team can detect damage from either a heart attack, heart failure or congenital heart disease, among other complications.
The machines – which are worth £250,000 each – also incorporate artificial intelligence which means they can compare scans to 3,000 built-in images to help diagnose the patient.
The new tech is a welcome addition for the team who also received a GE Echo device donated by a grateful patient via the trust’s charity.
The small, portable machine connects to a mobile device which can help consultants make faster clinical decisions during ward rounds and in A&E.
All 15 members of the echocardiology team will receive intensive, on-the-job training over the next few months so they can use the machines to their full potential.