Hospital marks the anniversary of x-ray discovery

YEOVIL District Hospital’s radiology team will be raising awareness of their work on World Radiography Day on Thursday, November 8, which marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays in 1895.  

The team provides diagnostic imaging central to patient care at Yeovil District Hospital. The longest serving staff member, radiographer’s assistant Chrissie Bennett, has seen many changes since she first joined the department nearly 50 years ago!

Chrissie said: “We were based in the old building which is now the hospital car park. There were just two radiographers, two technicians and a superintendent.”

Now the department has 69 staff including 37 radiographers and eight consultant radiologists and also provides services at South Petherton and Crewkerne hospitals where outpatients can request an appointment at these locations.

Chrissie added: “The technology is very different now – gone are the darkrooms where I had to dip the film in the tanks to develop X-rays – everything is digital.”

Yeovil Hospital invested in a brand new CT scanner this year which can produce 2D and 3D images of the body - it is capable of advanced imaging applications such as vascular and cardiac imaging. Radiologists can perform image guided biopsies on the scanner which can avoid the need for more invasive procedures such as exploratory surgery.

The general department is responsible for the majority of films taken right across the hospital. These include chest x-rays and trauma x-rays.

Another long serving member of staff is radiographer Glenis Birch who joined the department in 1975.

She said: “Over the years we have got so much busier and have seen a tidal wave of patients across all areas particular emergencies. Different types of injuries come into the department now.

"We used to have a lot of motorbike injuries which we don’t see as much. Victims of car accidents are also coming in with different types of injuries – seat belts reduced facial injuries but we are seeing more high speed accidents with head and spinal injuries.”

Anyone who wants to find out more about the Radiology Department is invited to meet some of the team in the front entrance of the hospital on Thursday, November 8, between 10am and 2pm.

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