NEWSLETTER - ISRRT

Introduction
I was asked to spend a week in Fiji, based in Suva to do
some training in Mammography and Breast Ultrasound.
This was partly funded by the ISRRT and partly by the Fiji
Government, Ministry of Health. Before I left for Fiji I tried
to find what sort of training would be required. I also sent a
questionnaire to be completed by those attending the training.
I had also planned a rough program for the week, but
could not make definite plans, as I did not know format of
training, facilities that would be available, number of participants
or their experience.
On arrival I found that I had the use of a seminar room
near the Mammography room in the CWM Hospital in
Suva. 8 staff, 6 from CWM and 2 from Lautoka Hospital
were freed from their normal duties for the whole week
to attend my training course. All the course attendants,
or trainees, were experienced in both Mammography and
Breast Ultrasound. The management of the Radiology Department
and the Fiji Society of Radiographers were very
supportive of this training.
Equipment
Suva CWM Hospital is well equipped with a Sophie
Planmed Mammography Unit installed in December 2005.
There are four 18x24 and four 24x30 cassettes. Previously a
bench top processor was used solely for Mammography, but
this is no longer operational, so films are processed through
one of the processors in the main X-ray department. The
Toshiba Ultrasound Unit is a high end model and very suitable
for Breast Ultrasound. Images are printed on paper.
Lautoka Hospital has a very old Lorad Mammography Unit
with one 18x24 cassette, images processed through main
processor. An equally old Ultrasound machine is used. It
has no capability of Doppler or saving or printing images.
Training
Report Report
Mammography and Breast Ultrasound training
Suva, Fiji
July 24-28, 2006
Report by Liz Bowey,
Chief of Modality for Mammography, Dr Jones & Partners, Adelaide, South Australia
On Monday morning I was able to ascertain from the questionnaires
what the girls’ level of experience was in both
Mammography and Breast Ultrasound, and what they
hoped to learn or improve on while I was there. I took some
training resources with me, including copies of the basic
Mammography training program I had set up for our own
staff. The girls found these resources very helpful.
It soon became clear that their knowledge of theory of
most aspects of Mammography and Breast Ultrasound was
good, so I spent a large proportion of my time on improving
their practical skills. I encouraged them to ask me lots of
questions, and in turn I asked them a lot too, to find out the
depth of their knowledge and interest. They were a fantastic
group, enthusiastic, keen to learn and very easy to teach.
In Mammography they wanted to improve their basic positioning
skills, particularly for MLO views and learn how to
do extra views. We had ready access to the Mammography
room and patients available when required, so I was able to
give them individual help to position, and group training on
critiquing and offering suggestions for improvements. We
also discussed what extra views would be appropriate in
different circumstances. For Ultrasound it was a little more
difficult as we had to fit in between patients in a very busy
department, however I feel again they were able gain experience
as a group and individually. I was able to help them
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Volume 43 – No. 1 17