A new point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) machine, funded through donations to Leicester Hospitals Charity, is now in daily use on the Acute Medical Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Before this, a single scanner was shared between several specialist wards, which meant delays and limited access. A dedicated machine on the unit lets the clinical team scan at the bedside, often during the first assessment, so the right treatment can start straight away.

The machine is used many times a day, helping doctors identify infections, locate free fluid and assess heart and lung function in breathless patients. It also makes procedures such as cannulation and lumbar puncture safer by guiding the needle in real time, which means fewer attempts and less discomfort. In some cases the bedside scan has replaced the need for a formal X-ray.

The feature also highlights the role of the machine in training the next generation of acute medicine consultants, as part of a region-wide POCUS programme in which Leicester's hospitals are helping lead teaching for doctors across the East Midlands.