Dr. Crowe is now a BUPA Platinum consultant
BUPA UK Insurance has launched BUPA Platinum consultants, a new category of consultant to help customers identify the best specialist for their healthcare needs. BUPA Platinum consultants have been rated ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ by 97% of BUPA Customers and are covered on all BUPA policies or schemes. Dr. Crowe is delighted to have been awarded BUPA Platinum consultant status.
Fibroids Support Group 2021
Fibroid Forum UK, a registered charity, runs a Fibroids Support Group with regular three monthly meetings which for 2021 have been taking place online. The meetings offer talks from guest speakers and an opportunity for women with fibroids to share experiences and offer mutual support.
The next online meeting is Monday September 27th 6:30 – 8:00pm. For further infomrtion and details of how to sign up to the Fibroid Forum mailing list click Fibroids Support Group flyer 2021
Opening of new Imaging Centre at BMI The Priory Hospital
Monday 26th February saw the official opening of the new Imaging Centre at the Priory Hospital. The new centre features new state of the art CT and MRI scanners as well as enhancements like mood lighting in the scan room designed to create a relaxing and calming environment for patients undergoing scans. The ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by Ian Bell MBE, England and Warwickshire cricketer and was well attended despite the snowy conditions in Birmingham on the evening.
Dr. Crowe (left) is pictured with Imaging Centre staff.
Opening of new Breast & Gynaecology Centre at Reddington Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria
Dr. Crowe was guest speaker at the opening of the new Breast and Gynaecology Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria on 1st May 2017. The centre is part of the Reddington Hospital Group and was unveiled by wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo. The centre offers state of the art facilities for treatment of women’s health conditions. Pictured at the opening ceremony from left, Dr. Crowe, CEO of Reddington Healthcare Group Dr. Yemi Onabowale, wife of Ondu State governor Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the Vice-President Mrs. Oladolapo Osinbajo and wife of Oyo State governor Mrs. Florence Ajimobi. Dr. Crowe spoke on non-surgical treatment of uterine fibroids and while in Lagos was also a guest on NTA2 TV programme Close Flow with Fola Martins.
British Society of Interventional Radiology speaks to MPs about the looming crisis in radiologist numbers
The British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) took its campaign to improve the numbers of interventional radiologists in the NHS to Westminster this week.
At a reception organised by the Medical Technology Group, the BSIR met a number of MPs and discussed the issue of the lack of fully qualified and trainee interventional radiologists.
Dr Trevor Cleveland from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Vice President BSIR and Dr Paul Crowe, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital were able to discuss the Royal College of Radiologists recent report on their workforce census. This report highlighted the lack of radiologists across the UK and crisis we face in the next few years as many current radiologists hit retirement age.
The Royal College of Radiologists Report showed that in the ten year period from 2002-03 to 2012-13 showed:
- Number of imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations or tests increased from 27 million to nearly 40 million.
- Fewer than half the vacant interventional posts were successfully appointed to.
- In general radiology three in every four posts advertised at small and medium non-teaching hospitals failed to result in an appointment in 2012.
- A total of 283 unfilled consultant posts were identified as of 31 December 2012
- More than one in five of the consultant workforce in the East of England and South East Coast, and one in four in Wales, are estimated to retire in the next five years.
- Almost one in three of the current consultant clinical radiology workforce is expected to retire in the next ten years.
Dr Cleveland said:
“This is a critical issue that needs to be given significant Government focus. As we have seen the number of radiodiagnostic tests continue to increase every year as does the need for urgent image guided treatments. However, the number of qualified radiologists has not increased to support it. A significant number of tests are now being reported by Radiologists outside the UK, or by private suppliers. The situation is also acute in interventional radiology, especially when you look at the number of interventional radiologists that are set to retire in the next few years. Whilst there is a recognition that more Radiologists and Interventional Radiologists are needed, the overall increase in training numbers is tiny.
For patients the situation is critical. Access to radiology treatment conducted by qualified radiologists is critical in delivering rapid treatment to patients (including those suffering trauma, bleeding and strokes). Given the current Government’s objective of delivering a 7 day NHS, part of which will mean radiology services delivered 24/7, this situation needs addressing urgently.”
What is the BSIR?
The BSIR is a charitable foundation founded to promote and develop the practice of Interventional Radiology.
What are the main objectives of the society?
- To support and develop access to high quality information on Interventional Radiology for patients and all healthcare professionals.
- To support audit and research in Interventional Radiology
- To support education and training in Interventional Radiology
Dr. Crowe is running the 2015 Birmingham Half Marathon for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Dr. Crowe is running the 2015 Birmingham Great Run Half Marathon on Sunday October 18th and is fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
The CF Trust is supporting research bringing us ever closer to a cure for the condition and ensuring that children diagnosed today are benefiting from optimal care and management from the outset.
Please visit Dr. Crowe’s JustGiving page and donate what you can. Thank you.
Golfer tells of her MRgFUS treatment for uterine fibroids
When professional golf instructor Alison Nicholas developed hip pain, she was surprised to discover that the source of her discomfort was elsewhere, leading her to require treatment at a specialist unit based at Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull. Professional golf instructor, Alison Nicholas from Birmingham, developed pain in her hip area. As an active individual, her first thoughts were of a muscular or joint related injury. Following the advice of a physiotherapist, Alison arranged to see a hip specialist who performed an MRI. This showed a mass in her uterus and as a result, Alison was referred to a gynaecologist.
Alison explained: “I was surprised to discover the source of my pain wasn’t actually my hip. I had been aware that my periods had become heavy but hadn’t really considered this was the source of my pain. “I was referred to a gynaecologist who told me I had uterine fibroids. Given I had private medical insurance, I wanted to obtain as much information as I could about the treatment of the condition and discovered a specialist centre – The Birmingham Fibroid Clinic at Spire Parkway in Solihull - offering a range of treatments.” Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow on the wall of the uterus, with symptoms including heavy bleeding and abdominal pain. While the cause of fibroids isn’t known, it is recognised that they can be hereditary, developing in adult women and increasing in size up to the menopause. Fibroids are often treated with medication or in severe cases surgery can be required. However, a minimally invasive procedure has recently become available, providing an option for patients and consultants. The procedure, known as Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS), can be a highly preferable alternative to existing treatments such as hysterectomy that have longer recovery rates of up to eight weeks and also loss of fertility.
Dr Paul Crowe, consultant interventional radiologist who carries out the MRgFUS procedure at Spire Parkway said: “The MRgFUS works by focusing ultrasound energy on the fibroid, raising its temperature and killing the cells without affecting the surrounding tissue. This approach means there is no need for incisions, no need for a general anaesthetic and many patients are able to leave the hospital just a few hours after treatment, returning to normal activities within a couple of days.” At Spire Parkway the medical teams use a dedicated facility that has a specialist MRI scanner with an attached high intensity ultrasound generator built into the table. The medical staff are able to talk to the patient throughout the procedure, which depending upon the number and size of the fibroids can last around 3 and a half hours. The patient will feel an element of discomfort due to the nerves near to the uterus, but fully in control, the patient is able to tell the team and they alter the direction of the ultrasound beam. Once the procedure was complete, Alison was observed in the hospital for a few hours before being allowed to go home. After a couple of days’ rest, she was able to return to normal activities.
Alison said: “I knew I needed to address the pain and heavy bleeding, so to be able to undergo a procedure to rectify the issue and enable me to get back to normal activities with minimal disruption was fantastic. “The team at Spire Parkway were great in ensuring I was prepared for the procedure and comfortable throughout. They also stayed in touch with me in the days following the procedure. “I’ve now been for my six month check up and all is well. It has been a great result for me.”
Dr Paul Crowe concluded: “As with any procedure, we have to look at the suitability and outcome possibilities for each individual patient. But, if a patient is suitable for MRgFUS, it provides an effective alternative to procedures such as hysterectomy where the recovery time and the loss of fertility, can have a significant impact upon a woman’s life.”
Updated patient information section on CIRSE website
CIRSE is the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe, a non-profit organisation with interventional radiologist members across Europe and beyond. It promotes research and education in the field of cardiovascular and interventional radiology. It holds an annual conference that is one of the major events in the global interventional radiology calendar, with the UK hosting the 2014 CIRSE conference in Glasgow from 13th-17th September.
The updated Patient section of the CIRSE website provides a wealth of information on conditions and procedures as well as multilingual information booklet downloads.
Mail on Sunday interviews one of Dr. Crowe’s patients for article on MRgFUS treatment of uterine fibroids
The Mail on Sunday has interviewed one of Dr. Crowe’s patients for a feature on MRI guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment of uterine fibroids. Company director, Ruth Wright, underwent the treatment at Spire Parkway Hospital.
‘I went in on the Thursday and was back at work on Monday’, says Ruth. ‘My life has been changed’.