Published: Monday 21 March 2022
A new diagnostic centre at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital has been hailed as “cutting edge” by Kensington and Chelsea Council’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.
Following a recent tour of the Royal Brompton Diagnostic Centre, Councillor Cem Kemahli said he was “very impressed” with the quality, capabilities and technological resources of the new facility in Chelsea and the potential impact in delivering better healthcare for patients.
The £50m Diagnostic Centre, which has been open to patients since January this year, provides the very latest in imaging technology to help diagnose cases of heart and lung disease.
Cllr Kemahli said:
“It is clear this is a major injection of healthcare capability and technology here in the heart of Chelsea, as part of one of the local jewels in our crown – the Royal Brompton Hospital.
“Some of the new equipment they have here, although it is an over-used phrase, really is cutting edge, and I am excited for what it can do to help patients locally, and from all over the country and beyond.
“I might also say I am really impressed with the way the Diagnostic Centre was thoughtfully constructed and how sensitively it fits with the local area in Dovehouse Street. It is good to know that the Royal Brompton has invested so much in its facilities here – it’s a very good indication of their clear desire to stay in this area and borough for decades to come.”
Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Operations Director Robert Craig, who showed the Councillor around along with Principal Echocardiographer Cathy West, said:
“It was very good to welcome such an important local figure to come and see our brand new Diagnostic Centre.
“We made very clear that no-one puts this much investment into an NHS facility unless it is here to stay for the long term, which of course is very welcome news for our local council following our merger with Guy’s and St Thomas’.”
Completed on time and under budget, the facility was fitted with some of the most advanced clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners on the market last year – namely, a state-of-the-art 3 Tesla (3T) machine and two 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) scanners, helping to increase diagnostic capabilities, reduce scanning times and improve overall patient experience.
The majority of the hospital’s scanning services including MRI, CT, ultrasound, echocardiography (including transoesophageal echocardiography), interventional radiology, and bronchoscopy scanning are now provided from the new building, which has also been fitted with specially commissioned artwork and interior decoration to help patients feel relaxed and at ease.