Building patients a better future: ‘P’ ET scanner
A new state-of-the art positron emission tomography (PET)
scanner and nuclear medicine department will soon be available
to patients at John Flynn Private Hospital.
The Discovery MI PET scanner, which represents the ‘P’ of the
hospital’s P.O.W.E.R. project, is the first fully digital scanner in
Queensland and a first for any private imaging company in
Australia.
South Coast Radiology General Manager Warren Berry said: “This
advanced technology increases our ability to detect cancer at its
earliest phase, whilst reducing the radiation dose to patients and
health care professionals.”
It can detect smaller lesions, reduce scan times for patients,
reduce radiation and more accurately monitor cancer therapy.
The scanner will be installed on a new floor of the hospital, which
is currently being built as part of the multi-million-dollar P.O.W.E.R.
re-development. It is estimated the PET scanner will be in
operation by mid-November.
South Coast Radiology will also operate a purpose-built Nuclear
Imaging and Therapy Centre, which will be housed on the same
floor as the PET scanner.
Existing services will be expanded to include a new SPECT/CT
system, which improves orthopaedic and brain nuclear medicine
studies.
“South Coast Radiology’s Nuclear Imaging and Therapy service
will significantly improve access to cutting edge technologies and
therapy services to patients living in the Gold Coast, Tweed and
Northern NSW region,” Mr Berry said.
‘O’perating theatres
Two new operating theatres are being built at John Flynn
Private Hospital to reduce surgery waiting times and increase
convenience for patients and doctors.
4 | JFPH HeartBeat
The new theatres, which represent the ‘O’ of the hospital’s major
P.O.W.E.R. project, are expected to increase surgery numbers by
20 per cent.
This development will bring the total number of theatres to 12.
This will increase the availability of theatre times and sessions,
meaning patients are more likely to receive their surgery when
they want it.
All specialties will have access to the new operating theatres,
which will create capacity for an extra four theatre sessions each
day.
John Flynn Private Hospital CEO Greg Jenke said: “Given that we
have 21 orthopaedic surgeons at the hospital now, a majority of
the sessions will likely be taken up by them.”
The theatres are being constructed on the new B1 level of the
hospital. There is enough space on this floor to expand the
pre-operative and post-operative recovery areas. Situating the
pre-op and post-op recovery areas closer to the new operating
theatres will increase efficiency around surgical scheduling.
The layout has been specially designed to ensure comfort for
patients as they come in and out of the theatres to ensure they
have the best possible experience at the hospital.
The new operating theatres are due to be completed in early
2020.
‘W’ard
A new ward will create 30 extra private single-bed rooms at John
Flynn Private Hospital, affording patients more comfort during
their stay.
The construction of the new ward represents the ‘W’ in the
hospital’s multi-million dollar P.O.W.E.R redevelopment.
The new ward will not only allow patients to be treated in their
own private room; the extra beds will also help to cater for the
growing demand for inpatient services at the hospital.