A life-saving piece of equipment worth £51,000 has been bought for the Emergency Department (ED) at Maidstone Hospital thanks to Maidstone Hospital League of Friends.

The charity generously funded the portable Sonosite X-Porte ultrasound machine allowing Doctors to have the latest technology at their fingertips.

It can be used to scan patients for a collapsed lung, blood in the abdominal or chest area, heart problems, and limb pulses, as well as potentially identifying an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) – a bulge or swelling in the aorta which can cause life-threatening bleeding if it bursts. In addition it provides image guidance to help place chest drains and find suitable veins to administer drugs via.

As well as providing better image quality, the X-Porte has more probes for scanning patients. Photos and videos of scans can also be taken.

A huge thank you to the Maidstone Hospital League of Friends for funding the ultrasound machine.

Since arriving on ED in May this wonderful piece of kit has been used every day and has made a life-changing difference to numerous patients.