The Nuclear Medicine Department within the South Eastern Trust is playing a vital role in the diagnosis of patients with cancer.
Nuclear Medicine is a distinct area of radiology that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to assess organ function and detect disease. Unlike conventional radiology, which takes static images, Nuclear Medicine provides dynamic, functional imaging that shows how organs are working in real time
Trust Lead for Nuclear Medicine Donna Rowley explained the complexities involved in providing the service. “The work we do here goes far beyond what happens within the department. The radioactive material is delivered each morning from the Belfast Trust by the Transport Team. We then check the material and monitor the driver to ensure there is no contamination.
“Once patients receive their injection and are handed over to surgical teams, the Nuclear Medicine staff remain involved. We oversee that radioactive waste is collected and secured, ensuring everything is logged and stored according to strict regulatory guidelines and disposed of safely.”
Deputy Trust Lead for Nuclear Medicine, Rebecca Hutcheson detailed how, “The difference between ourselves and the rest of Radiology is that with Nuclear Medicine, instead of just taking a snapshot of the body, we can administer different drugs that target specific organs and monitor how they function. We can observe how kidneys drain or how lymph nodes appear as part of a network inside the body.”
At present, the team works closely with breast and melanoma cancer patients. “Patients attend the department for injections and scans before heading to theatre,” Rebecca said. “The radioactive tracer allows the surgeon to locate and remove the lymph node or nodes, which is then sent to the lab to check for cancer spread. Timing is critical, so everything must be carefully coordinated with theatre staff, Surgeons, wards and Portering staff.”
Donna added, “Nuclear Medicine is the most heavily regulated department in any hospital. We apply the principles of time, distance and shielding to protect ourselves from exposure to radiation. We carry out multiple checks throughout the day to ensure the radioactive material is where it should be. We also monitor and train theatre staff and the transport team to handle radioactive materials safely. Our role in Nuclear Medicine is to protect all members of staff, patients, the public and the environment from unnecessary exposure to radioactive material.”
The department was recently praised during an audit for its outstanding cleanliness. Donna paid tribute to the Domestic Assistants remarking, “William and Lindsay do a fantastic job keeping the environment spotless. I am so proud of this department and everyone who contributes to its success.”
Donna and Rebecca are the only two Clinical Technologists in the Trust and they are determined that their hard work will continue to grow the service to support patients within the South Eastern Trust.
