Department of Diagnostic Imaging

Daisy Hill Hospital

Newry

Co. Down

As you encounter the x-ray department you will meet a wide range of people with a high level of expertise in the latest technological advances:

Mrs B. McCann in reception will answer your queries about access and appointments. Telephone 02830835124

From this point you will encounter different staff in different areas

Mrs Liz McWilliams deputy manager

Radiographers are at the heart of modern medicine. Without detailed images of what is happening inside the body diagnosis and treatment would not be as effective. X-ray provides an extensive service to many departments with patients being referred from within the hospital and G.P. clinics.

Mrs Pat McDonald Clinical Specialist in Ultrasound

Ultrasound is used in the diagnosis of diseases in the soft tissue organs within the body. This is an examination in which sound waves will be used to examine your internal organs. If you are sent for an abdominal scan some gel will be applied to your abdomen by the Radiographer or Radiologist performing the scan. A small probe will then be placed in contact with the gel and moved over your abdomen. It is a safe and painless procedure. The entire procedure will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. The results are then sent to the referring clinician.

You may meet consultant Radiologist Dr.Gerry Boyle in the fluoroscopy room with radiographers Helen Shiels and Farrah Shields

If you are referred for a CT scan the radiographer in charge is Tracey Glendinning

This is a specialized x-ray investigation using a computed tomography (CT) scanner to visualize within the body. From the images obtained we can reconstruct in 3-D.

If you should have to attend, you will be required to lie on a special couch that will move through the scanner. You will feel nothing during the examination and the machine opening is fairly wide (not a tunnel), so there is no reason to feel constrained.

A radiographer performs the examination, and sometimes you may be required to have an injection of a special colourless liquid (contrast agent/dye) into one of the veins (usually in the arm). Besides a small needle prick, the only side is likely to be the feeling of warmth throughout the body lasting a few minutes. Many people feel nothing at all.

The entire process takes approximately 15mins to complete.

and Consultant Radiologist Dr.Alan Todd writes the report sent to your doctor

or Clinical specialist Mrs Maura Fegan

Should you be referred to the X-ray department you will receive a high quality diagnostic imaging service