Lead gowns

Protecting the professionals

The Rumba Foundation has donated five new lead gowns to the Oncology and Soft Tissue (FROST) centre at Fitzpatrick Referrals animal hospital. These are an essential clinical resource in the Centre’s ground-breaking treatment of animal patients during X-ray procedures such as fluoroscopy. 

Hospital staff are at risk from repeated exposure to X-rays so protective clothing plays a vital role in reducing that exposure during medical imaging procedures. Made of a flexible rubber exterior covering a layer of lead, the gowns act as radiation shields.
FROST’s veterinary staff wear lead gowns while conducting interventional fluoroscopy procedures on animal patients. Fluoroscopy is a medical imaging system that allows radiologists to view moving internal structures of the body. An image of the part of the body being scanned is transmitted to a TV-type monitor, allowing the clinician to see a live, moving picture of the internal organ or tissues being treated. 

In 2015, the Rumba Foundation donated a C-Arm Fluoroscope to FROST, which has enabled the team to perform minimally-invasive procedures, such as opening a cancer obstruction or delivering targeted chemotherapy direct to a tumour.

Professor Nick Bacon, Clinical Director, Oncologic & Soft Tissue Surgery at Fitzpatrick Referrals, said: 
“Rumba has been a keen supporter of the Interventional Radiology (IR) service here in Guildford. We have been actively working with our human IR colleagues, especially from the Royal Surrey County Hospital, to advance the scope and range of procedures we’re able to offer our patients. The added complexity and required skill set means more people are needed in theatre, and this generous gift of the new gowns allows this to happen.”

The lead gowns worn by FROST’s veterinary staff have to be engineered to the highest standards using state-of-the-art materials. This ensures they are comfortable to wear as well providing essential protection. They must also be checked regularly to ensure their continued shielding effectiveness. 

One of Rumba’s Founding Trustees, Jim Hindle said: “We know that the brilliant work being carried out by FROST is a team effort, and obviously the more colleagues that can be equipped with protective clothing in theatre, the smoother the procedures will be. We’re delighted to invest in pioneering therapies that are making such a difference to the animals in FROST’s care.” 

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