Ultrasound imaging
The ultrasound department provides imaging using sound waves which reflect off body tissues (similar to the use of sonar used by ships and submarines) to help to diagnose disease.
There are five general ultrasound rooms located within the main Ultrasound Department and two obstetric rooms located in the maternity unit, using both Phillips and GE scanning equipment; providing on average 16,600 examinations per year. These consist of general abdominal, gynaecological, vascular, musculoskeletal and obstetric ultrasound examinations, but there also one-stop clinics for urology and DVT examinations. Ultrasound is also used for scanning babies’ hips to check for structural abnormalities as it does not involve the use of ionising radiation (x-rays).