Nuclear Medicine (Gamma Camera), Royal Free Hospital
Case studies > Capital projects
To replace 2 of the Trusts ageing 4 imaging equipment within the Nuclear Medicine department at Royal Free Hospital site. These machines will provide services across a wide range of specialties including Cardiology and neuro-endocrine an integral part of the care pathways for many tumour sites. The significant risk for both staff operating the machinery and patients treated by them has necessitated these replacements.
Scheme highlights
Upgrade of whole nuclear department inclusive of nurse call system upgrade.
New Hotstack and improvements to existing stack to support increased scanning activity.
Additional MDT and Research conferencing suite provided within scope of project.
Challenges
The shielding and structure requirements for imaging equipment mean that the construction is intrusive and scales multiple floors. The age of the building meant that we came across unforeseen asbestos even though surveys took place within the design stages. To mitigate these delays activities were rescheduled within the programme to ensure the earliest possible opening of the clinical area. Programme and equipment delays took place due to COVID disruption the Royal Free Imaging Operational worked collaboratively with the Capital project team to utilise mobile equipment to ensure the commissioning programme was held.
“These cameras will allow our teams to focus more on their patients, as they automate some of the more time-consuming processes that used to demand our attention. It’s going to take us far less time to get the equipment up and running, which means that we’ll have a quicker start to the day, and staff will be able to focus on other important areas of work. These cameras are just one part of a long term strategy for extending the nuclear medicine service offered at the Royal Free Hospital. We’re already the largest centre in the country for radionuclide therapy – but we know that with more capacity there’s even more that we could be doing.”
Danny McCool, Head of Nuclear Medicine
Key Details
Build Cost £2.5m
18 months from Design to Practical Completion
Services Provided
Project Management
Cost management
Relocations and commissioning
Procurement
Pre-contract/post-contract
