Keeping doors open for cancer patients
While many organisations have been forced to work remotely or close down during the pandemic, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre have kept their doors open for those who need them, while ensuring staff and patients remain safe.
“I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016," says Julia. "Earlier this year, I experienced a lot of pain and badly needed another MRI scan. I was incredibly grateful that the team at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre were there for me at this difficult time.
“I cannot thank the team at Paul Strickland Scanner Centre enough and feel incredibly lucky that they continue to be there for me when I need them.
“As a result of my MRI scan, I was able to have radiotherapy treatment the same week, which drastically improved my situation and made things much more bearable.”
Supporting cancer patients during Covid-19
High-quality cancer imaging makes it possible for doctors to give cancer patients the right treatment at the right time and for the right duration.
Paul Strickland Scanner Centre is a specialist cancer imaging charity that gives patients and their medical teams access to high-quality CT, MRI and PET-CT scans. The charity is a global leader in whole-body MRI scans, which can be particularly important for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The centre is based at Mount Vernon Hospital in Greater London.
Paul Strickland Scanner Centre CEO Claire Strickland says, “The pandemic has had a huge impact on the healthcare system and we’ve worked really hard to make sure we can remain operational. Our focus has been on keeping staff and patients safe, which has meant we’ve taken measures like setting the chairs further apart in our waiting room and discouraging visitors, other than patients, from coming to the centre.
“I’m really pleased with how staff have pulled together over the past weeks and I’m very proud of the team, who have kept things going under very challenging circumstances.”
In need of PPE
The Government and the NHS have made it clear that cancer treatment should continue to be prioritised wherever possible during the Covid-19 emergency. Like many other healthcare organisations, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre has had to quickly buy a huge amount of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ms Strickland said: “We contacted our suppliers early on to make sure we have enough of everything, however it has been a huge additional expense. We are very thankful to the community for their donations, including schools who have used their 3D printers to produce PPE. One of our radiographers also led a successful fundraising drive in his community to buy our own 3D printer, which we are now using to produce PPE.”
As a result of their efforts, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre continues to provide a vital service for cancer patients from across the UK and abroad.
Find out more
Covid-19 has had a big financial impact on the Paul Strickland Scanner, as they have been forced to cancel many of their fundraising events.
If you’re interested in supporting Paul Strickland Scanner to keep their doors open for cancer patients at this difficult time, please visit www.stricklandscanner.org.uk.
