News
Botesdale GP practice offers x-rays and ultrasound scans to rural
community
17 July 2008
Botesdale Health Centre, a general practice in Suffolk, has installed
an Acuson X300 ultrasound system and AXIOM Multix M digital x-ray
solution from Siemens to provide diagnostic imaging services to the
local community.
Based between Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge, Botesdale Health Centre
has been treating local residents for over 25 years. For this new
venture, the centre is working in conjunction with staff at the West
Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust to deliver diagnostic imaging to the local
community. Patients will no longer have to travel to hospitals for
routine examinations, saving them time and thus reducing pressure on the
hospitals.
At Botesdale Health Centre the ultrasound system will be used for
general abdominal examinations. As it can be used in a range of
applications, the practice is also considering offering, urology, MSK
and echocardiography, antenatal and gynaecology services in the future.
The digital x-ray solution will be used to examine all major joints
and limbs that would otherwise mean a journey to the hospital. Digital
x-ray produces high quality images quickly to assist with diagnosis and
reduce the amount of retakes and dose the patient is exposed to.
Radiographers from West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust will undertake
examinations in conjunction with patient liaison staff at the practice.
An innovative finance package was developed by Siemens Healthcare and
Siemens Financial Services to enable Botesdale Health Centre to acquire
the systems. Representatives from both divisions visited Botesdale
Health Centre to discuss needs and financial solutions.
“As the way funding flows through the NHS changes, many primary care
providers are finding outright purchase of the medical equipment is
becoming increasingly inflexible and inefficient,” states David Martin,
General Manager Public Sector at Siemens Financial Services.
“We worked closely with the team at Botesdale to set up a seven-year
leasing agreement that removes these challenges and is flexible enough
to reflect the forecasted cash flow as a result of installing this new
equipment. This type of agreement gives primary care trusts an
opportunity to obtain high quality medical equipment at an affordable
price.”
Dr Tim Cooke at Botesdale Health Centre said: “The entire process,
including the excellent communication of the sales team and the
efficient installation, has been incredibly professional. Finding the
correct financial solution was critical to us, and Siemens’ financial
people did a fantastic job in developing an arrangement suitable for all
parties. I could not be more pleased with how it has gone and would most
definitely work with Siemens again."
“The portfolio of services we now offer to patients in the local area
has been significantly increased, giving greater care to the community
and offering a wider breadth of services to patients.”
“It’s fantastic that West Suffolk Hospital NHS Trust and Botesdale
Health Centre are collaborating on this project and we are very pleased
to be involved,” states Graham Walker, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens
Healthcare. “The digital systems we have installed will benefit the
local area and help deliver a higher standard of integrated care.”
The ultrasound machine was purchased with funds raised through,
Friends of Botesdale Health Centre, a charity established in 1982 that
provides regular contributions to the health centre. The doctors at
Botesdale funded the fitting out of the x-ray and ultrasound room and
other costs.
|
