Diagnostics

Radiology

QVH’s fully equipped and digitised radiology service sees over 25,000 patients each year from the local community as well as from within the hospital. Our radiologists have particular expertise in head, neck and musculoskeletal imaging.

Our services include:

• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanning
• CT (computer tomography) scanning
• ConeBeam CTscanner which local dentists can refer general dental patients to
• General and dental X-rays
• Specialised salivary gland service which includes stone removal and ductoplasty
• Musculoskeletal joint injection under ultrasound
• Barium examinations of the mouth to stomach (throat/oesophageal region)
• Video Fluoroscopy with a multi-disciplinary team of speech therapist, radiologist and radiographer
• Ultrasound scanning with colour Doppler (including DVT scans). No maternity services are offered here.

We are also an “Any Qualified Provider” (AQP) in Surrey,Sussex and Kent for the provision of non-obstetric ultrasound.

The radiology department operates Monday to Friday, 8:15am to 5:45pm, with on call cover for emergency referrals. We offer walk-ins for x-ray referrals only. We carry out some MRI scans using a translocatable MRI unit which can be found in the car park near the clocktower.

GPs can refer patients directly to QVH for imaging tests, including CT and MRI. If for any reason we are unable to accommodate referrals, we are able to arrange for them to be carried out at neighbouring NHS trusts.

If you have general queries or need appointment information please contact the radiology admin team by phone on 01342 414249.

For clinical questions please contact Sarah Solanki, Radiology Service Manager on 01342 414429 or the consultant radiologist, Dr Bruce Smith on 01342 414432.

Are you a nervous patient or do you have additional needs?

If you have been referred to QVH for MRI and are a nervous patient, please contact the team on 01342 414249 about visiting the scanner prior to your appointment. This will give you the opportunity to look at the scanner and speak to the team.

The MRI also now offers some paediatric scanning (not suitable for extremely young children or those requiring general anaesthetic). The team work with our Peanut children’s ward play specialist to help prepare children prior to their scan.

If you or someone you care for has special educational or additional needs and you would like to speak to us about extended appointment times, please contact the department on 01342 414249. We can facilitate longer appointment times where necessary and have named staff with enhanced skills to support individuals during appointments (subject to their availability). We also have an easy read leaflet about CBCT (Cone Beam CT) scans you can find here.

Histopathology

QVH provides specialist histopathology services (the microscopic examination of body tissues) in its fully equipped and specialist laboratory. We process over 17,000 specimens each year from patients in Sussex, Surrey and Kent. Our Consultant Histopathologists have particular expertise in head and neck pathology, breast pathology and skin pathology.

GPs and dentists can refer samples directly to QVH for histopathology, including skin and oral biopsies. We maintain the highest standards of diagnostic quality and turnaround times with performance well within the 10 day turnaround standard laid out by the Royal College of Pathologists.

The Histopathology Department operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

If you have any queries about the Histopathology service at QVH, please contact Fiona Lawson, Pathology Services Manager, on 01342 306634 or one of our Consultant Histopathologists on 01342 414270.

Microbiology

Microbiology services (the study of micro-organisms such as viruses and bacteria) are provided by the team at BSUH, headed by Marc Cubbon.

Page last updated: 29 October 2024.

Dr Mohamed El-Belihy

Dr Mohamed El-Belihy qualified from Bart’s and The Royal London in 2010. He completed his specialty training in Dental & Maxillofacial Radiology at Guy’s & St. Thomas’, University College London Hospitals and here at Queen Victoria Hospital in 2022.

He was appointed as a consultant at Queen Victoria Hospital in 2022 and assumed the role of the clinical lead in 2023. His subspecialties are Dental and Head and Neck Radiology. He undertakes neck ultrasound guided biopsies as well as sialography.

Dr El-Belihy has completed PGCert in Dental Education and PGDip in Medical education. He gained Membership of the Academy of Medical Education in 2019. He teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate level nationally as well as IRMER updates for regional dentists in East of England. He is also an RCS England OSCE Examiner.

Dr Joseph Flexen

Dr Joseph Flexen is a Consultant Radiologist with a specialist interest in Dental and Head & Neck imaging.

He is dual qualified in Dentistry (Liverpool, 2010) and Medicine (Barts, 2017). Prior to radiology, he worked in a range of settings, including dental practice, dental hospital specialties and maxillofacial surgery. He completed his core radiology training at Imperial College NHS Trust and subspecialty training at UCLH. He provides consultant level reporting for all aspects of Dental and Head & Neck radiology.

He has extensive medical education experience, having undertaken a medical education fellowship at NHS England, completing his PGCert in Medical Education and gaining FHEA recognition.

Mr Simon Harvey

Mr Simon Harvey is a consultant and registered specialist in Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. He completed specialist training at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and now works at Queen Victoria Hospital and The Eastman Dental Hospital, London.

His subspecialty clinical interests are dentoalveolar cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and salivary gland interventional radiology. He accepts referrals for salivary assessments, balloon ductoplasty and basket retrieval.

He has an interest in dentolegal disputes and holds a Master’s Degree in Medical Law and Ethics from the King’s College London School of Law. He sits on The DDU Dental Advisory Committee and acts as an independent expert witness.

Selected publications:

• Harvey, S., Patel, S. Guidelines and template for reporting on CBCT scans. Br Dent J 228, 15–18 (2020).
• Harvey, S., Ball, F., Brown, J. et al. ‘Non-standard’ panoramic programmes and the unusual artefacts they produce. Br Dent J 223, 248–252 (2017).

Books

• Patel, Harvey et al. Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Endodontics. Quintessence, 2016
• Contributing author to “Essentials of Dental Radiography and Radiology” 6th Edition
• Contributing author to “Bailey and Love’s Essential operations in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

GDC 153695
Contact email: qvh.xray@nhs.net

Dr Elly Pilavachi

Dr Elly Pilavachi qualified in medicine from Brighton and Sussex Medical School in 2012. She completed her radiology training at University College London Hospital in 2023, including two years of head and neck sub-speciality training.

Her professional interests include head and neck cross-sectional reporting in adults and paediatrics, and performing specialised head and neck ultrasound examinations including core biopsies and aspirations.

Dr Pilavachi is a member of the Sussex regional head and neck Cancer, Kent skin Cancer and Surrey head and neck Cancer multidisciplinary teams.

Page last updated: 5 February 2024.

Dr Rachael Liebmann

Dr Rachael Liebmann OBE graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1991 and is a past vice President of the Royal College of Pathologists, a specialist breast pathologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Rachael is Group Medical Director at The Doctors Laboratory and Health Services Laboratories and a trustee and Chair of the Grants and Awards Committee of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.

As well as holding many senior regional and national roles in the recent past, Dr Liebmann is vice president of the Royal College of Pathologists, has over 20 years’ experience as an NHS consultant and has been recognised by her peers as one of world’s 100 most influential pathologists. She has been shortlisted for the National Patient Safety Awards and Health Service Journal Clinical Leader of the Year and was awarded the College Medal for Distinguished Service.

Dr Liebmann led a review into Breast Cancer Reporting for the Care Quality Commission which resulted in substantial reforms to breast cancer reporting and she was part of the clinical panel for the Paterson Inquiry into criminal activity by a breast cancer surgeon in the Midlands. She led the introduction of the first national pathology Key Performance Indicators, including laboratory turnaround times.

As Vice President for Communication and International at the Royal College of Pathologists, Dr Liebmann oversaw the establishment of a Resources Hub to allow members to find guidance with relevance to their Covid-19 testing work and contributed to planning the Covid-themed International Pathology Day.

When the London Nightingale Field Hospital Medical Director contacted Dr Liebmann for help she did not hesitate to plan and set up the service. She recruited the medical students who staffed the laboratory reception 24/7. Throughout the hospital’s life she co-ordinated and provided mentorship and advocacy for these volunteers.

Dr Liebmann was awarded an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2020 in recognition of her services to pathology.