New imaging system will provide real benefits for patients – McGimpsey

The Health Minister today launched the new Northern Ireland Picture Archiving and Communications System (NIPACS) in the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

NIPACS is a regional radiology information system which permits the sharing of all radiology images and associated reports at any authorised location.

Speaking at the event, Michael McGimpsey said: “I have been very impressed by the magnificent equipment which really is of the highest specification, and its marvellous potential for improving services. The availability of these facilities will deliver real benefits to patients.”

“This new technology, which will cost £31million over 10 years, will link together Picture and Archiving systems throughout Northern Ireland and will allow doctors to see images in other hospital sites. This will result in quicker diagnosis and treatment for patients, and will contribute to a much more efficient and productive health and social care system.

“Over the course of next year, all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland will have this state of the art equipment installed, which will improve efficiency and productivity within the health and social care sector.”

This development is yet another example of how we are investing in our Health Service to ensure that patients and clinicians see real improvements.

Notes to editors:

1. Within the last 10 years radiology has moved from an analogue film capture method to digital capture in a similar way to how photographic cameras are now digital. With the new NIPACS Service, all the images captured on any site will be digital and stored on a large central archive.
2. Radiology data can then accessed by authorised clinical users logging into the central storage facility where they can view all of the patient's scans and reports on desktop computers. This ensures that the radiology information is always available at the point of care.
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