Published 17 January 2023
Work is nearly complete on an exciting development at the Interventional Radiology Centre at Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C) that will see more patients treated at this specialist centre for east Kent.
A second interventional radiology (IR) suite will welcome its first patients next month, following a major renovation of the hospital’s aging endovascular theatre.
It will include new, highly advanced imaging equipment that will enable clinical teams to better target treatment, as well as improved anaesthetic, recovery and reception areas.
This further expands the service at K&C where a brand new IR suite opened last May, with state-of-the-art imaging equipment, a large new procedure room, day-case unit, recovery and anaesthetic rooms, and training facilities.
Thanks to more than £5 million investment in the service, more patients will be able to benefit from image-guided procedures that treat a range of diseases, including vascular disease and cancer.
This investment also supports the expansion of the vascular service at K&C, which will soon become the county’s specialist vascular centre. This will see all patients requiring inpatient vascular surgery across east Kent, Medway and Maidstone areas treated by vascular and IR teams at K&C.
Dr Robert Kaikini, strategy lead consultant for interventional radiology, said: “Interventional radiology is a core component of many patient pathways. This expansion of the unit will enable us to offer a wide and growing range of treatments.
“The procedures we perform are minimally invasive and precisely targeted, resulting in fewer complications, a shorter hospital stay, and a faster recovery time for patients.
“The technology also allows us to treat more elderly and frail patients, for whom conventional surgery may not be an option.”
