New Child-friendly CT Scanner at The Grange University Hospital

The Radiology team at The Grange University Hospital have worked hard to create a child-friendly CT scanner. A computed tomography (CT) scan is a medical imaging technique that is used to gain detailed internal images of the body. To do this, the patient must go through a doughnut-shaped machine and lay very still for a few minutes.

For many children, and adults, this can be an intimidating process which will often lead to the patient being sedated before entering the scanner. However, with the help of our suppliers at Canon, the Radiology team have been able to create a child-friendly CT scanner which has been covered in artwork of Ferdinand the Fox and Betty the Bunny.

Before each scan, the paediatric patient will receive a leaflet where Ferdinand the Fox and Betty the Bunny explain what is going to happen to them. The patient is then encouraged to play with the mini CT scanner and teddy which demonstrates the same process that they will be going through. This is often led by one of our Play Therapists. By the time the patient is due to have their scan, they’re often relaxed and excited to copy what their teddy has just done.

In addition, Innovision has been added to the MRI scanner at The Grange University Hospital. This is another significant improvement in service provision by the use of technology which has helped reduce the number of general anaesthetics required and has enabled the team to better support the claustrophobic patient. This allows patients to watch a film during their MRI scan which assists the patient in remaining both calm and still.

Helen Hopkins, CT and MRI Superintendent, said, “The introduction of the paediatric-friendly CT scanner has helped reduce the number of sedations in children which has been a real positive. It means that the patient will not have to stay in after sedation to be monitored before going home.”