Alder Hey consultant says innovative new CT scanner would “change everything”
As part of our ongoing Every Second Counts CT Scanner Appeal, we’re speaking with some of Alder Hey’s incredible clinicians to find out why this vital piece of equipment is so urgently needed, and how it will transform care for the thousands of children who come through our doors every year.
In this first interview, we meet Dr Caren Landes, Consultant Paediatric Radiologist at Alder Hey NHS Foundation Trust, who shares her insights into the impact a new, top-of-the-range CT scanner would have, and what it means for children and young people at Alder Hey.
Dr Landes has worked at Alder Hey since 2006, joking that she’s “part of the furniture by now.” Having seen the radiology department grow and evolve following the move into the state-of-the-art Alder Hey in the Park site, Caren knows first-hand the impact of utilising innovation and cutting-edge technology. And the new CT spectral scanner is no exception.
What are CT Scans?
“CT scans are very important. We use them to look for anything to do with trauma or diagnosing a tumour for example, and they are a very quick and easy way of making a diagnosis so that clinicians know what they are dealing with.”
How would the new scanner make a difference for the children and young people you treat?
“Having this new scanner would make such a difference to our patients and staff. It means we can scan our children and babies much more quickly, often without the need for a general anaesthetic. It also means the processing is very quick, so we as radiologists can look at the images and make the diagnosis without any delays. Finally, it also means we can scan more patients and crucially reduce the need for ionising radiation to the levels of as little as a simple X-ray, which is so important when imaging children.”
What would having this scanner mean for Alder Hey?
“If we had this scanner, it would be the first in the world in any paediatric hospital in the world. Alder Hey is already renowned and the radiology department has a stellar reputation. We want to maintain that and if we get this scanner now, we can lead the way for the rest of the world.”
This opportunity is only possible with your support. We’re raising £952,000 to fund this brand-new CT scanner that will make a real difference to families across the North West and beyond. Every gift, big or small, brings us closer to this goal.
