New ultrasound machines allow for more patients to be seen at NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter

New state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging equipment at the Devon Diagnostic Centre (DDC) is helping to reduce the local NHS patient waiting list from six weeks to less than two weeks.

Following funding from the National Accelerator Systems Programme, DDC, which is based at the NHS Nightingale Hospital Exeter, now has four outpatient scanning suites, each installed with the latest state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging equipment from Canon Medical Systems UK.

With this increased capacity of the ultrasound department, DDC has been able to serve three times as many patients this year compared to last year, helping to support peaks in demand for diagnostic imaging and reducing how long patients are waiting for their care.

The new machines provide a high level of detail for precision scanning, particularly for gynaecological and MSK examinations. They can also provide high-quality vascular visualisation, which advances diagnostic confidence when evaluating lesions, cysts and tumours, improving patient outcomes and experience.

Jane Baker, principal sonographer at the Nightingale, said: "With this new equipment, we are already seeing faster examinations and improved productivity within the team. Patients are already seeing the difference as well, with reduced times between a GP referral and getting an appointment with us.

"With improved image quality, diagnostic confidence has increased greatly across the team, leading to more efficient diagnoses and patients being seen at a much faster rate. The new machines allow us to provide optimum diagnostic quality to our patients and also supports the ultrasound team in a busy outpatient setting."