What we do
The Radiology department operates across all of the Trust’s main sites. Although better known as the ‘X-ray Department’, we do a lot more than just take X-rays – we offer almost all of the latest types of medical imaging techniques.
Last year we performed over 200,000 examinations.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has recently completed the installation of more than 100 new pieces of state of the art Radiology equipment. These include a new CT scanner, providing general imaging but also to enable imaging of the heart. Further equipment includes mobile X-ray units, digital X-ray rooms, a new X-ray screening room and a new vascular intervention lab.
There are seven sub-departments at this, the largest of our sites. They are:
Angiography (Farage Unit) – Examinations of veins and arteries are performed in this suite
Casualty X-ray – This satellite department has two rooms which are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for emergency investigations. X-ray equipment is also available in the resuscitation room
Chest Clinic X-ray – This one-room satellite department contains specialised equipment for chest imaging
Mammography – The mammography suite provides a specialist service for symptomatic breast imaging
Obstetric Ultrasound (Women’s Unit) – There are three ultrasound rooms in the Women’s Unit where pregnancy and some gynaecology scans are performed
X-ray Central – There is one general X-ray room in this department (for inpatient referrals) as well as specialised suites for CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging, general ultrasound and nuclear medicine
X-ray North – This department contains four general X-ray rooms (two each for GP referrals and outpatient department referrals), one dental X-ray room and three rooms for special investigations (such as barium meals).
Facilities at others sites:
Fleetwood Hospital
Fleetwood Hospital has a state-of-the-art X-ray facility that offers efficient service to its patients. The X-ray department at Fleetwood Hospital was generously re-equipped by the Lofthouse Foundation in 1998. The department performs mostly orthopaedic and general X-rays at the request of GPs.
Clifton Hospital
Clifton Hospital is a community hospital that provides non-acute, rehabilitation and respite care for those with long-term conditions. The Radiology department at Clifton Hospital has two examination rooms. One is equipped for general X-ray examinations and the other contains a bone densitometry scanner.
More than 160 employees work in the Radiology department and are all there to deliver this fascinating technology to its patients while providing them the best possible care.
Clerical/Secretaries
Our greeting staff and our secretaries are there to ensure your admission, registration and paperwork at the Radiology department is flawless.
Health Care Assistants
Aside from our Radiologists, our Health Care Assistants are there to make sure you are as comfortable and happy as possible during your stay at the Radiology department!
Radiographers, Nurses, Technicians and Assistant Practitioners
Our Radiographers, Nurses, Technicians and Assistant Practitioners make sure the images they take of you are the highest quality as possible when you are being examined.
Consultants
The Radiology Consultant team is composed of 17 dynamic Consultants which keep patient care as its priority, as well as staying abreast of the newest developments in the field of Radiology over a diverse and comprehensive spectrum.
The Radiology department has a duty of care to its patients. As part of this we are continually monitoring the service we provide and the facilities that we offer. We do this through:
Standards Group
A group which monitors the quality of the service we provide
Quality Assurance
A group that regularly checks the safe and accurate operation of the equipment we use.
Audit
The department has a rolling programme of self-observation to find ways of improving our service.
IR(ME)R Group
A group that monitors our compliance with the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) regulations.
Paediatric Focus Group
This group looks at how we work with children, and how we can make the Radiology Service more child-friendly.
In addition to all of the above, the Radiology department is represented on a variety of panels and working groups within the Trust, including car parking, information technology, patient public involvement and emergency planning.
Many people worry about being exposed to X-rays and other forms of radiation. Whilst we do endeavour to keep your radiation dose low it is important to remember that your Doctor thinks the examination is necessary.
All our staff operate within the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, IR(ME)R.
We always try to keep the number of people exposed to radiation to a minimum. For this reason, if you are not a patient, you may be asked to wait outside the X-ray room, to stand behind a screen or to wear a lead-rubber apron that will help to protect you from the radiation.
We welcome your comments, questions and opinions. Please feel to contact us:
By post:
X-Ray Department
Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Whinney Heys Road
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
By phone:
Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Ultrasound – 01253 956645 / 01253 953146
Nuclear Medicine – 01253 953919 / 01253 953545
CT/MR Scanning – 01253 956619
X-ray Appointments – 01253 953919 / 01253 953545
Barium/Fluoroscopy Appointments – 01253 953545 / 01253 953919
Mammography – 01253 956984
Fleetwood Hospital
X-Ray and Fluoroscopy Appointments – 01253 953146
Ultrasound: 01253 306645 / 01253 953146
Clifton Hospital
X-Ray Appointments – 01253 957010
Ultrasound Appointments: 01253 956645 / 01253 953146
