F e a t u r e s
From Helmand to Gosport in the Blink of an Eye!
H
aving recently been evicted (in the nicest possible way) from Royal Hospital Haslar, a small team of radiographers and radiologists quietly continue their vital work in support of
those in out of area locations, from the temporary shelter at Fort Blockhouse in Gosport. Here Squadron Leader Martin Coleman talks about this important and potentially life- saving process that goes on behind the scenes.
Teleradiology, as it is called, is a service originally set up 12 years ago to provide a solution to the problem of how to meet the military demand for radiology with only a limited number of radiologists. Since then the Centre for Defence Imaging (CDI) has expanded its role and now provides a reporting and archiving service to UK X-Ray departments here and overseas at Akrotiri, Dhekelia, Gibraltar and the Falklands as well as at some 16 Regional Rehabilitation Units in the UK.
The main users of the service however, are those out on Op HERRICK in Afghanistan. And things are busy. In one month alone, the small tri-Service team dealt with over 2,600 examinations equating to approximately 250,000 images, all of which came down the line to the Centre at Gosport.
The traffic back to UK from Camp Bastion comprises a range of different clinical images for interpretation, including X-Ray and images from the CT scanner. The CDI team, lead by Group Captain John Kilbey, works tirelessly to interpret the images and also fulfills the function of an essential check, ensuring that the right images and reports go to the right place at the right time. To help, CDI has developed a range of communication links including a dedicated satellite, the MoD’s own Intranet and secure broadband.
The Gosport team provides 24-hour cover to ensure that images are sent to the on-call radiologists in order to get a timely report back to the deployed clinicians whenever required. Captain Catriona Watson, Royal Army Medical Corps said: “This sometimes involves significant amounts
of detective work, especially for some of the images returning from Afghanistan”.
It is accepted that the nature of the injuries and clinical urgency from operational theatres may mean that patient details are sometimes incomplete – and occasionally not available at all. Diligent investigative work by the team at CDI ensures correct identification and plays a key role in preventing the potential drama that could occur should an incorrect report be sent out. A large number of images come back from the facility at Camp Bastion with only a hospital number. It is then the team’s job to correctly identify which images go with Abdulla Mohammed and which with Abdulah Mohammad (for example).
The team must then adhere to the legal requirement for all X-Ray images be archived and stored for 100 years. So, as well as being deployable radiographers, the team at CDI have to be part-detective, computer specialist, archivist, statistician and communication engineers.
The team is due to move into the new-build Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in 2010. But until then, the Centre for Defence Imaging will continue to provide support to their colleagues on deployed Operations and outlying X-Ray departments from their temporary home.
CIVVY STREET NEEDS YOUR HELP.
If you are about to leave the Forces and have time to spare, come and work as a part-time volunteer for charity.
The organisational skills you learned can be of vital importance to the success of a voluntary organisation – and help give you a new lease of life into the bargain!
REACHprovides a free job-finding service throughout theUK and could find you a satisfying, voluntary opportunity nearby. Phone for details or visit our website at
www.volwork.org.uk
reach 14 Winter 2009
89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP. Tel: 020 7582 6543 Registered Charity No 278837
www.raf-ff.org.uk
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