GUELPH, Ont. – A nuclear medicine scanner has been added to the Guelph General Hospital’s arsenal of high-tech diagnostic imaging tools. Weighing over 7,000 pounds, the machine is one of the first of its kind in Canada, since it also incorporates a CT scanner.

“This will transform diagnostic imaging at the hospital,” said Dr. Samir Patel (pictured), chief of the department of radiology at GGH. “Unlike other scans such as X-rays which capture a moment in time, these nuclear medicine scans help a physician see how well a particular area of your body or organ system is functioning. It can provide information about how an injury, disease or infection might be affecting your body. It can also be used to monitor over time how well some treatments, like chemotherapy, are working.”

The machine, from Siemens, creates state-of-the-art images while minimizing radiation dose, explains Dr. Mathew Kuruvilla, the hospital’s new director of nuclear medicine. “It has both nuclear and CT capabilities, which allows us to fuse the functional imaging that traditional nuclear medicine provides, along with the anatomic blueprint offered by CT.”

Both family physicians and specialists will be able to request scans, which will automatically become a part of the patient’s electronic health record.

The new machine was made possible thanks to the generosity of Tom and Margaret Trainor, who pledged $1 million to make it happen. “This donation allows GGH to fill a “clinical gap” in its imaging services,” says director of diagnostic imaging Mike Sharma.

“This is our hospital and this is where we have come and will continue to come for care when we need it most,” says Tom Trainor. “We know that government funding is not enough to keep our hospital up to date with the state-of-the-art technologies we need. We cannot think of a better place to invest in. We know this donation will be helping everyone in our community for years to come.”

The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital’s president and CEO, Suzanne Bone noted, “Tom and Margaret’s commitment to our Hospital is truly remarkable. Their gift will help save lives and improve health and we are so very grateful to them.”

In honour of the Trainor’s tremendous gift, the new service will be named the Tom and Margaret Trainor Nuclear Medicine Suite. Bone added “In naming the suite, we are honouring Tom and Margaret and ensuring a lasting legacy that celebrates their commitment to the health and well-being of our community.”