The A&E department of St Bernard's hospital now has a state-of-the-art blood gas machine, which will enable medical and nursing staff to rapidly analyse a patient's condition, provide treatment sooner and improve turnaround times in the department. The machine, which is the size of a desktop photocpier, can test a sample of blood from an artery within minutes. It measures the levels of certain gases and compounds in the patient's bloodstream and provides instant results.
The Minister for Health, Neil Costa, visited the facility this week to learn more about the equipment, and said he was extremely pleased at this follow-up to the recent upgrade of front-line medical facilities at the Accident and Emergency Department.