New medical equipment will allow patients needing sinus surgery in the Northallerton area to receive their treatment closer to home, thanks to a dedicated group of fundraisers.
A state-of-the-art imaging system, mainly used for patients undergoing complex ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery, has been donated to the Friarage Hospital by the Friends of the Friarage.
The equipment will not only save patients from having to travel to The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but will also speed up surgery and act as a teaching tool for the hospital’s junior doctors.
Dr David Whitehead, consultant ENT surgeon, said: “Both myself and my colleagues are delighted that the Friarage now has the cutting-edge stack equipment which can be used to view confined spaces and operate within the nose without having to make large incisions.
“This donation once again shows the incredible generosity of the Friends of the Friarage, we feel eternally grateful for all that the friends have done to support our vision and the local population.
“Not only will this piece of kit benefit our patients it will also be a fantastic teaching tool for our doctors in training and it will put the hospital on par with some of the other leading teaching hospitals in the UK.”
The imaging system can also be used throughout keyhole surgery in many specialities including gynaecology, urology and vascular surgery.
The system purchased for the Friarage has two components. The imaging system, manufactured by Storz, allows surgeons to operate within the nose without having to make large incisions and print high quality images.
The second component is the computer assisted navigation system, manufactured by Medtronic, which allows CT and MRI images to be imported and mapped to the patient during surgery.
Surgeons are able to operate with great precision in challenging circumstances very close to vital structures such as the brain and eyes.
Donna Jermyn, chairman of Friends of the Friarage, said the group were delighted to have been able to donate £2,408 for the new equipment.
“It will enable the majority of patients requiring sinus surgery to be treated at the Friarage Hospital rather than having to travel to James Cook which is fantastic news for the local population,” she added.
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