Staff from the Lancashire Cardiac Centre in on the newly refurbished cath labs.
HEART patients from across the county are to benefit from major improvements to operating theatres in the Lancashire Cardiac Centre.
Two cath labs at the centre, based at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, have been upgraded to provide improved cardiac imaging equipment which also produces less radiation.
Julie Kelsall, Princiapl Radiographer, said the upgraded facilities would be a major benefit for patients and staff.
She said: “Both labs were new in June 2006 when the Lancashire Cardiac Centre opened so this year they were 10 years old and ready to be refurbished.
“We have undertaken a lot of work in recent months and we now have Philips Allura Clarity Bi-Plane Labs. This means there are two X-Ray sources rather than one which leads to improved cardiac imaging.
“At the same time the radiation dose given is about half the dose that was given before which is good news for the operators and the patients.
“The new labs are a huge boost for the centre and will help us provide an even better service. The images we see will be much clearer than before and the reduced radiation is something that benefits everyone.’’
A cath lab is an examination room in a hospital or clinic with diagnostic imaging equipment used to view the arteries of the heart and the chambers of the heart and treat any stenosis or abnormality found.