St Vincent de Paul has strengthened its diagnostic imaging services with the introduction of a third ultrasound machine, this time dedicated to musculoskeletal imaging, following an investment of €85,000.
In a statement, the Health Ministry said that the new service will be available to residents of St Vincent de Paul as well as patients aged over 60 living in the community or in residential care homes.
During a visit to the facility, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Deo Debattista said the investment forms part of the government's ongoing efforts to make healthcare services more accessible to older people while increasing the capacity of the national healthcare system.
"When we invest in new technology, our goal is not the machine itself, but what we can offer patients through it. Providing more services closer to our older persons means less travelling, more efficient diagnoses and, above all, care that continues to improve their quality of life," Debattista said.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive imaging technique that does not use radiation. It is used to examine muscles, ligaments, joints and other soft tissues, providing specialists with real-time images that support more accurate diagnoses of injuries, inflammation and other musculoskeletal conditions.
The technology can also be used to guide certain medical procedures, including therapeutic injections, allowing treatments to be carried out with greater precision and safety.
The addition of the new ultrasound service further expands the range of diagnostic examinations offered by the Diagnostic Imaging Unit at St Vincent de Paul, which already provides MRI, CT scans, X-rays, fluoroscopy and bone density imaging.
Alongside the ultrasound service, the facility has also introduced CT-guided interventional musculoskeletal procedures through investment in a CT image-guided intervention package. These procedures are carried out by a specialist consultant and are intended to improve the accuracy and safety of interventions.
Debattista said the enhanced services at St Vincent de Paul would also allow some examinations that were previously carried out at Mater Dei Hospital to be performed at the long-term care facility instead, making services more accessible to patients while increasing diagnostic capacity across the healthcare system.
He added that active ageing also means ensuring older people have access to the care and support needed to remain as independent as possible and maintain a good quality of life, pledging continued investment in technology, services and healthcare professionals.
The investment forms part of St Vincent de Paul's ongoing programme to modernise its diagnostic services through advanced medical technology and improve the standard of care available to both its residents and older people living in the community.