"A quicker way to X Ray"

Dear asteropenn34,

I am very sorry to hear of the challenging experience you and your mum had while trying to navigate your way from the front entrance of the hospital to the Radiology Department.

The Radiology Department is located in the West Wing of the hospital and unfortunately does not have a direct outside entrance for patients to attend. (Something that is a “must have” for any future builds.)

Prior to the current Covid-19 pandemic the vast majority of outpatients attending the Radiology Department entered the hospital via the Emergency Department entrance, (parking in the lower car parks), or the Outpatient entrance, (parking in the Multi-storey carpark), with some Radiology outpatients entering via the old Front Hall.

However, in response to the pandemic, in 2020 it became necessary for the hospital to close all external doors to public access with the exception of the Front Hall, an entrance at the South Wing and an entrance at the NW Cancer Centre, all of which are staffed at point of entry.

Unfortunately, none of these currently-open hospital entrances are close to the Main Radiology Department. Earlier this year when the new North Wing Front Entrance was opened it quickly became apparent that the distance some Radiology outpatients have to travel within the hospital is considerable and needed to be addressed.

With that in mind, the Trust temporarily agreed that the Radiology Department can make use of an external entrance which is located at one end of a hospital corridor within the West Wing and relatively close to the Radiology Department.

For the past 5 weeks we have been piloting the use of this entrance with a selection of our Radiology outpatients and the feedback has been very positive. We had a review meeting today and building on this success, the plan is to open the use of this temporary entrance to more of our Radiology outpatients, including GPs.

The entrance is located close to the Glenshane Road entrance of the hospital, half-way along the slip road that leads to the Emergency Department. As it is just around the corner from the Outpatient/GP Out-of-Hours entrance patients can be dropped off there and then follow the external signs for “Radiology”. Patients can also be dropped off just outside the temporary entrance as there is ramp access, but care must be taken as this slip road can be busy. In the interest of patient safety, we have asked the Trust for a designated drop-off point just opposite the temporary entrance, but this is a work in progress.

The entrance is available for use by any patient attending the Radiology Department for an Outpatient/GP appointment. Large blue and white signs stating “Radiology” have been located externally to help locate the entrance.

At present the entrance is staffed by a member of the Radiology Department Monday to Friday, from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM. Outside of these hours Radiology patients must enter via one of the previously mentioned entrances. Our staff member will ask covid-19 related questions and then give directions to the correct area of the Radiology Department, which is located just beyond this entrance.

Asteropenn34, if either you or your mum need to attend for any further Radiology appointments, (within the listed hours), then please do avail of this entrance, as I think you will find it is a much shorter / easier option.

If my directions as to the location of the Radiology entrance are unclear, then please do not hesitate to contact the Radiology Department Appointments Office. There should be a number on the appointment letter.

Stay Safe.

Kind Regards,

Angela Elliott,

Operations Manager, Radiology Department