New ultrasound machines at St Luke's Hospital

Two new ultrasound machines were entered into service at St Luke's Hospital on Thursday, representing an investment of Lm110,000.

The machines were inaugurated by Health Minister Louis Deguara, who said the new equipment produced colour images which were more accurate and would facilitate diagnosis. They would also mean that patients would require fewer scans, and cut down on the need for biopsies.

They replace machines which had been in use for over 14 years. Their new technology means that digital images can be archived and, once Mater Dei Hospital is opened, they will be accessible online as needed.

The Radiology Department at St Luke's does an estimated 110,000 investigations every year, 10,000 of which are ultrasound.

Next week, medical ward 6 at St Luke's will be opened, as well as the dermatology outpatients' department at Boffa Hospital. Procedures are also being started for the modernisation of the female ward and a new forensic unit at Mt Carmel Hospital, Dr Deguara said.