Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s cardiorespiratory department have introduced a state-of-the-art ultrasound scanner which provides ultrasounds at a patient’s bedside to enhance quality of care.
The technology is Butterfly IQ’s single-probe, whole-body handheld scanner, which is connected to a tablet or smartphone and provides instant images, avoiding the need to move bulky machines around and plug them in on the wards.
Three probes have been procured at a cost of around £3,000 each, which has been generously funded by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity.
The new equipment represents a groundbreaking advancement in medical technology, bringing ultrasound into the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment process, and is significantly more cost effective and affordable than regular machines.
The device offers unparalleled accessibility and versatility at the bedside, particularly for cardiology patients. It empowers healthcare professionals with a portable and efficient tool for comprehensive cardiac assessments, transforming the way ultrasound diagnostics are approached, and enhances patients’ quality of care.
Mohsin Bobat, Senior Cardiac Physiologist, is excited by the potential benefits of the technology: “It’s a very sought-after item. Any urgent scans or focus scans in clinics can be done simply, just connect to your device and in an instant, you’re getting amazing images. It saves so much time, and it’s easier for patients as well.
“If anyone needs a quick point of care ultrasound, these probes are a quick way of checking things are okay. You might have to refer them for an echocardiogram, where you can get more measurements and a bigger picture, but discharges can be processed quicker, and you can save a patient time and anxiety waiting for a scan.”
Staff will be trained to use the probes, enhancing traditional learning and understanding, and Shahid Tagari, Clinical Physiologist - Specialist Practitioner, feels they will be a welcome added support.
He said: “The telemedicine side of this is its unique selling point, allowing that instant diagnosis from an expert. If we have a junior doctor using it in A&E in the middle of the night, while they are scanning a patient, because it is linked through an app, they could make a live call to myself for support, on my phone. I could support someone maybe not as experienced, so that telemedicine part of it is very important. In time, every doctor could be going around with one instead of a stethoscope.
“It’s still a triage tool at the moment, but it gives us an edge where we can get more information from the patient than we would have had without that resource. With a stethoscope, you can listen for a heart murmur, but this is then showing us that murmur and we can see that leaky valve.”
Tony Smith, Senior Project Manager, was delighted to help the department put the probes into practice: “It’s cutting-edge technology, and so agile - handheld, used alongside the supercomputer in your pocket. It adds an extra layer of diligence around heart treatment, and it will be a huge benefit to the department and patients.”
Dan Hill, Head of Hospital Charities, added: "We are delighted that the charity has been able to fund this innovative piece of equipment to benefit patient care. Our charity’s aim has always been to ensure patients at our hospitals have access to the very best care, in the best facilities possible. We are extremely grateful to all our wonderful supporters for helping us work towards this goal.”
