Welsh Government
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Ysbyty Gwynedd benefits from Health Technology and Telemedicine Fund

Ministers saw yesterday Wednesday, 26 February the impact the Welsh Government’s Health Technology and Telemedicine Fund is having on the health service when they visited the new CT scanner suite at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford and Finance Minister Jane Hutt saw the results of the £1.2m investment from the fund into the new service, which includes a new CT scanner and a completely remodelled space.

The new suite provides a more effective clinical space with improved patient privacy and patient flow. The facility provides high-speed scanning for patients less able to remain still. Other benefits include excellent image quality for scans of the heart and also shows fine detail of the bones in trauma and orthopaedic examinations.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said:

“Technology has a major role to play in the NHS and it is important that we invest in new technology which can improve service quality and improve outcomes for patients. The £1.2m which the Welsh Government’s Health Technology and Telemedicine Fund has invested here in Ysbyty Gwynedd is making a real difference and it was good to hear from the staff themselves how this new facility has improved the way they work.”

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said:

“These are difficult financial times and we are facing many challenges. However, we recognise in our Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan the importance of sustained investment in our public service infrastructure to ensure the longer term sustainable health of the people in Wales. By investing in the latest technology available we can make a real difference for the people who work in and use our public services.  The new CT scanner suite at Ysbyty Gwynedd is an example of how such investment is making a difference for staff and patients.”

Chairman of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said Dr Peter Higson said:

"The new CT scanner is a major step forward from the unit it replaces. Over the last ten years CT technology has moved forward a long way and the new machine is capable of performing a wider range of examinations, thereby assisting in the accurate diagnosis of patients' conditions.  Patients are better able to tolerate CT examinations as the scans are much quicker and safety is improved by using much lower radiation doses when compared to the previous scanner - this is important for all patients but particularly so when there is a requirement for individuals to have multiple scans during the course of their treatment.”

Links

Health technology and telehealth fund

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