High-tech NHS role leads way
A NEW digital job created at Morriston Hospital is thought to be the first of its kind in the NHS.
The biomedical 3D technician will help surgeons at the Swansea hospital carry out intricate facial reconstruction surgery.
Health board bosses say Heather Goodrum is the first person to be appointed to the role at any NHS hospital, carrying out maxillofacial surgery – the treatment of injuries and diseases affecting the mouth, jaws, face, head and neck.
Other centres are now looking to follow suit and have asked Morriston for guidance.
Heather could have used her skills to specialise in facial reconstructions from skulls, in the same way that Richard III’s face was reconstructed after his skull was found during the archaeological excavation of a Leicester car park. Alternatively she could have worked with police, drawing faces for e-fits based on witness descriptions.
Instead Heather helps maxillofacial consultants plan reconstruction surgery, designing implants and cutting guides which are 3D printed once they have been approved.
The implants and cutting guides are designed using the patient’s own CT images. The highly accurate designs save theatre time.
Heather did her BA Hons degree in theatre design at Nottingham Trent University, where she developed an interest in digital design and 3D software for the stage. After that she completed her masters in facial forensic art, doing reconstructions from skulls – first using clay and then digitally.
Heather then became interested in how the digital work could be applied to maxillofacial surgery.
She said: “The surgeons decide how they want to be able to do the surgery and the design side is then down to me and the reconstructive scientists in our team.
“I’ll design the part required and the team and I sit down together to make any alterations. Once complete it is sent away for 3D printing.”
Peter Llewelyn Evans, maxillofacial laboratory services manager at Morriston Hospital, said the service created a range of implants and prostheses, including legs, breasts and ears – though Heather’s role was mainly in head and neck surgery.
“The digital 3D planning for head and neck reconstructions has really grown in the last five years or so,” said Mr Evans.
“Units are struggling to do the digital work because they have not had anyone specifically trained to do it.
“The role didn’t exist in the NHS so we created a special post as we felt it was something that would continue to grow.”
Heather said she enjoyed the variety of her role, as she was able to work on implants for a range of procedures.
“I’ve also learnt a lot from being able to go into theatre and getting feedback straightaway,” she said.
“You’re really part of the team and you do develop a rapport with the surgeons. You know you are literally helping patients rebuild their lives.”
Mr Evans said having digitallydesigned and 3D printed implants meant better outcomes for the patients, as they were a perfect fit.
It also saved surgeons’ time as they no longer had to shape the implants by hand.
He added: “Other large centres around the UK have been in contact about Heather’s role because they want to create a similar post in their units.
“So it’s great to be able show another innovative approach to patient care from ABMU.”