Health technology company Royal Philips has signed a long-term strategic partnership with the Gibraltar Health Authority to advance radiology and cardiology patient care. As part of the agreement, which builds on a long-standing relationship between the two organisations, the construction of the new interventional cardiac suite (cath lab) will begin later this year. Construction and installation of specialist equipment will take about nine to 12 months, with a service agreement in place to ensure ongoing maintenance of equipment.

Gibraltar’s new services will bring sustainable benefits for patients at St Bernard’s Hospital, with more cardiac patients receiving local treatment, instead of traveling across the border to neighbouring Spain. Expected clinical outcomes include reduced length of stays for such patients, relieving pressure on demand for hospital beds and ambulance transport services, and improved 30-day mortality rates.

The new interventional suite will bring St Bernard’s Hospital’s services up to full operating capacity, allowing more patients to receive a range of cardiology treatments, such as coronary angioplasty, catheterisation to treat artery blockages, and minimally invasive replacement of heart valves. 

In parallel, existing Philips systems within the hospital will be upgraded with the latest technology, including the replacement of equipment in two X-ray rooms, a fluoroscopy room for real-time moving X-ray imagery, and ultrasound systems. A new CT system will help reduce downtime and delays in diagnostics while creating opportunities for the hospital’s cardiology and radiology teams to further expand services. This could see the Gibraltar Health Authority continue to bring care closer to home for future patients, such as through the availability of coronary CT scanning.

“This new chapter in our partnership with the Gibraltar Health Authority will give both clinicians and the community of Gibraltar access to innovative technologies beyond the next decade,” said Mark Leftwich, managing director for Philips UK and Ireland. “For the first time, clinical staff will be able to manage acute cardiac diseases, such as heart attacks, in a purpose-built suite, while Philips imaging systems and informatics will enable faster scanning time and enhanced collaboration. This will help create more efficiency and capacity within the departments and improved image quality will support safer diagnosis.”

Professor Patrick Geoghegan OBE, director-general at Gibraltar Health Authority, said: “We’re delighted to renew and strengthen our relationship with Philips with this new partnership. The impact that this new diagnostic equipment will have on our operation and on the quality of care we will be able to provide for our community is huge.”