Now up and running, the Pukka-J solution for image viewing, archiving and distribution is fulfilling a key role within the Trust. At the same time the archiving solution provided to the Royal Sussex County Hospital prepares the Hospital for PACS, with all CT, MRI PET and NM image being stored direct to the Trust’s existing SAN. The Trust will be deploying NPfIT PACS in the very near future and the Pukka-J storage system will be utilised for specialist areas such as Oncology and On-call reporting.

At the Royal Sussex, Pukka-J’s web browser product for teleradiology: Dicom Explorer is used primarily for the distribution and display of medical images (CT, MRI PET and NM), for Radiology, Oncology, A&E, Neurological Services and Renal Medicine Departments. Images can also be shared with other hospitals within the Trust, including the Sussex Cancer Centre and Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath. Pukka-J’s PACSPost allows on-call consultants to pick up images from a secure site immediately, view remotely and provide a 24/7 “on call” reporting service, including emergency reporting on CT and MRI images.

Dr. Graham Dodge, Lead Consultant Radiologist at the Royal Sussex Hospitals says:

We have been particularly pleased with the image distribution facility, how fast it is, and the fact that my radiological colleagues and I can report on a variety of images from anywhere in the hospital. It also allows clinicians to access images from their clinics and offices. Using PACSPost allows us to view on call-scans securely and reliably from our homes.

The Sussex Cancer Centre, situated in the Royal Sussex County Hospital , Brighton, using Pukka-J’s system, is also able to view images from the Agfa PACS at Eastbourne District General Hospital and The Conquest Hospital, Hastings . Next in line, is a link to images from the Ferrania PACS at Worthing and Southlands Hospital , Worthing . The Centre is a key specialist cancer care organisation providing oncology treatment within the Sussex cancer network area. It serves a population of just over one million people, covering an area stretching from Hastings in East Sussex to Worthing in West Sussex . Hospitals within the network include The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton Royal Hospital , Hayward ‘s Heath Hospital , Worthing and Southlands Hospital , Eastbourne DGH and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings . The main function of the Centre is the provision of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment; the fast and easy access to images via the Dicom Exporer is vital for the efficient and timely diagnosis and treatment of patients.