Frimley, UK, 2014-Jun-19
According to figures published by Public Health England1, 64% of people in England are overweight or obese. With obesity on the rise, hospitals across the country are adapting to provide equal care for bariatric patients. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust is leading the way in responding to the rise in obesity in the North West region, where the figure for obesity is 66%. The hospital recently installed an Artis zeeTM Multi-purpose (MP) from Siemens Healthcare which is now having a positive impact on bariatric patients who require interventional imaging.
Prior to the system being installed in 2013, the hospital would often have to turn down morbidly obese patients, classified as such by a Body Mass Index of 40 or more, who required interventional imaging. This would sometimes mean referring them to alternative medical facilities or private medical centres to be treated. Following the installation of the Artis zee, no patients have been turned away as the increased weight allowance allows patients weighing up to 200 Kilograms to be treated at the hospital. This is a greater weight capacity than the majority of comparable systems on the market.
The system comprises a wide table top and optional arm holds to assist with the comfort of larger patients. The adjustable table height also makes it easy for patients to mount and dismount the table, easing lifting pressures on staff. The flat emitter technology allows the clinicians to deliver more fluoroscopic power and for longer and provides up to 40% higher tube current, which is especially helpful when treating obese patients to gain greater penetration.
“As the bariatric centre for the North West, Salford Royal ensures obese patients receive equal care,” states Lisa Lyon, Lead GI Radiographer at Salford Royal. “The installation of an Artis zee MP from Siemens Healthcare has meant we no longer have to turn away patients for interventional imaging and patients are able to be treated locally and are getting the appropriate treatment for their condition. We have also invested in larger gowns and shorts to ensure patient are treated with dignity.”
John Brady, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare states: “Hospitals that fail to provide sufficient imaging provisions for the growing waistlines of the UK population may find patients are left with a delay in diagnosis. It will also occasionally lead to the use of veterinary or zoological scanners, resulting in a loss of dignity for the patient. Siemens recognises the rise in obesity and aims to do all it can to adapt its imaging systems through innovation to ensure the best treatment is provided to all sizes and shapes of patients.”
Notes to editors :
1.Public Health England, 4th February 2014, https://www.gov.uk/government/news/phe-release-local-authority-adult-obesity-data
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The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimising clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. For further information please visit: http://www.siemens.co.uk/healthcare.
