The Services
The services at Dumfries and Stranraer provide emergency cover 24 hours/7 days, 365 days/year.
The range of services provided depending on location, includes:
General radiography
Theatre radiography/fluoroscopy
Mobile radiography on wards/resuscitation
Dental radiography
Fluoroscopy
Computerised Tomography (CT)
DEXA scanning
Mammography
Ultrasound scanning
Cardiac angiography
Angiography/fluoroscopy
Interventional fluoroscopy
Videofluoroscopy
MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging
Staff
The X-ray/Imaging Service is provided by a multi-disciplinary team made up of:
- Radiology Nurses
- Administrative and Clerical staff
- X-ray Helpers
- Porters
- Radiographers
- Radiologists
Quality Assurance
The Radiology/Imaging Department is obliged by law to adhere to the latest Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations – IR(ME)R. Departmental Policies and Procedures have been reviewed and, where necessary, redesigned to comply with this Legislation.
The Department has been audited by the Scottish Executive/Department of Health to confirm compliance. Embedded in the above are the “Guidelines for Doctors” produced by the Royal College of Radiologists.
Each examination has a written protocol. Any area in which role extension has already been introduced has an accompanying scheme of work.
Evidence based practice
The protocols alluded to above are modified from time to time depending on up to date evidence from the Literature or from the Colleges. There are many recent examples of modification of practice.
Processes of care
Access to Department facilities is readily available.
GP referred patients have open access at Galloway Community Hospital (Stranraer) and at Dumfries. There a few constraints with respect to timing, but essentially patients can be x-rayed same day or next day.
Referrals requiring preparation are examined at the earliest opportunity. The average waiting time for specialised examinations is around the 4-week mark, ranging from two weeks to eight weeks.
Emergency cases are dealt with immediately.
General radiography, fluoroscopy (in the Department and in Theatre), are available on a 24hour, 7 day/week basis via the Duty Radiographer. There is also an on-call service for CT. A Radiologist is on-call for CT, certain interventional techniques, and ultrasound
Contact
X-Ray Department – Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary
Telephone: 01387 241435
X-Ray Department – Galloway Community Hospital
Telephone: 01776 707707