Peterborough hospitals first outside the US to use new handheld ultrasound scanner
The technology sends scans straight to a patient's online record to help doctors diagnose faster
Two hospitals in Cambridgeshire are the first outside the USA to bring a new handheld ultrasound scanner into their care systems.
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust says the technology could speed up diagnosis and improve patient care in its emergency departments.
The device, called the Butterfly iQ3, is described as the world's first handheld, single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system.
It is already being used at Peterborough City Hospital and Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
The Trust also runs Stamford and Rutland Hospital.
The software allows scans and data to be delivered automatically straight to a patient's online record.
The Trust says that lets consultants read reports and scans faster, helping them to diagnose more quickly.
It adds that the handheld machine will also help clinicians answer clinical questions at the bedside, carry out more accurate procedures and make quicker decisions.
The Trust says this will collectively help offer safer, more cost-effective care for patients.
Toby Edmunds, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care at the Trust, said: "We are proud to be the first internationally to introduce this Trust-wide software platform for Point-of-Care Ultrasound patient results, representing a significant advancement in how we deliver frontline care across Emergency and Critical Care services."
He said: "Having immediate access to high-quality ultrasound at the bedside enhances our ability to make time-critical decisions, particularly in acutely unwell patients."
The move is part of a five-year project aiming to transform how the Trust uses ultrasound.
Edmunds said: "This programme positions the Trust at the forefront of point of care ultrasound integration in the NHS and reflects a broader commitment to improving patient safety and clinical efficiency."