Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay has welcomed the news that the new x-ray equipment installed in St Austell Hospital last year has had a tangible positive impact on patient treatment.
Digital x-ray equipment is modern, efficient imaging technology that enables faster patient throughput and, importantly, reduces patient ionising radiation dose. The x-ray equipment replacement project at these community hospitals is allied to Cornwall’s Shaping Our Future strategy, improving care closer to home and digitising x-ray services throughout the county.
The x-ray services in community hospitals are critical to the work undertaken in Minor Injuries Units (MIUs) and support outpatient clinics and referrals from GPs in these locations, preventing the need for patients to make long journeys to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.
Commenting, Steve said:
“I have been delighted to hear of the success of the rollout of digital x-ray equipment in St Austell Hospital, and that this will now be expanded further throughout Cornwall.”
“These results show how important our community hospitals are in providing care for the areas in which they are located as well as crucially keeping the pressure off A&E at Truro.”
“I will continue to champion and support community hospitals in Mid-Cornwall to ensure they get the investment they need.”