Great British Bake Off star officially opens new scoliosis scanner at St George’s
Bake Off star Alice Fevronia – who had scoliosis as a teenager – officially opened a new scoliosis scanner and judged a charity bake off event raising £437 at St George’s Hospital last week.
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine twists and curves to the side causing a progressive deformity that worsens over time and sometimes requires surgical treatment in severe cases.
Early-Onset Scoliosis (EOS) scanners work by a patient standing, or sitting, within the scanner and capturing the different shape the spine takes when standing compared to lying down through full body 2D and 3D scans.
The EOS scanner at St George’s is specialist, in fact the St George’s scanner is the only one south of the River Thames. This means that people from Cornwall, to Brighton and all down the south coast will be visiting the specialist Scoliosis centre at St George’s for their treatment. It is used to support scoliosis diagnosis and treatment and is one of four of these scanners being used in the NHS.
Alice Fevronia, finalist in Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off in 2019, was invited to officially open the use of the scanner after having spoken publicly about being diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager.
She had a 50 degree ‘S’ shaped curve in her spine and required surgery to fuse four vertebras in her lumbar region to correct her spine. It was during her recovery that she discovered baking and used it as therapy.
After cutting the ribbon to open the scanner, she spent time visiting paediatric wards to meet children being treated for scoliosis and judging the Great St George’s Bake Off event to raise money for scoliosis research and paediatric services via St George’s Hospital Charity – raising a whopping £437.87.
Alice Fevronia said: “It was a real honour to have been asked to St George’s to cut the ribbon and celebrate the opening of the new EOS machine. I was 15 when I had spinal fusion surgery to correct my scoliosis and I had more X-rays than I can remember. It’s amazing to see how technology has progressed since then, and the EOS machine will make such a difference to patients going through it now. It was lovely chatting to all the staff about the amazing work they’re doing, and of course, to try their cakes and judge the Great St George’s Bake Off!”
The new scanner provides up to 50 times less radiation than traditional X-rays and is therefore safer for children and adults requiring scanning to manage scoliosis as their spine progressively changes.
This type of scanning provides a bridge between imaging and orthopaedic (muscle and skeletal surgery) surgery as the scans show the full skeletal structure which supports highly precise pre-surgical planning.
Mr Darren F. Lui, Consultant Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeon at St George’s, said: “I am so proud of the team we have here, always going above and beyond, always pushing boundaries. I hope launching the new scanner and fundraising from the bake sale can raise further awareness.”
To support scoliosis research at St George’s, please visit St Georges Hospital Charity or contact giving@stgeorges.nhs.uk and quote Reference 11112.
Bake Off star Alice Fevronia – who had scoliosis as a teenager – officially opened a new scoliosis scanner and judged a charity bake off event raising £437 at St George’s Hospital last week.
Scoliosis is a condition where the spine twists and curves to the side causing a progressive deformity that worsens over time and sometimes requires surgical treatment in severe cases.
Early-Onset Scoliosis (EOS) scanners work by a patient standing, or sitting, within the scanner and capturing the different shape the spine takes when standing compared to lying down through full body 2D and 3D scans.
The EOS scanner at St George’s is specialist, in fact the St George’s scanner is the only one south of the River Thames. This means that people from Cornwall, to Brighton and all down the south coast will be visiting the specialist Scoliosis centre at St George’s for their treatment. It is used to support scoliosis diagnosis and treatment and is one of four of these scanners being used in the NHS.
Alice Fevronia, finalist in Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off in 2019, was invited to officially open the use of the scanner after having spoken publicly about being diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager.
She had a 50 degree ‘S’ shaped curve in her spine and required surgery to fuse four vertebras in her lumbar region to correct her spine. It was during her recovery that she discovered baking and used it as therapy.
After cutting the ribbon to open the scanner, she spent time visiting paediatric wards to meet children being treated for scoliosis and judging the Great St George’s Bake Off event to raise money for scoliosis research and paediatric services via St George’s Hospital Charity – raising a whopping £437.87.
Alice Fevronia said: “It was a real honour to have been asked to St George’s to cut the ribbon and celebrate the opening of the new EOS machine. I was 15 when I had spinal fusion surgery to correct my scoliosis and I had more X-rays than I can remember. It’s amazing to see how technology has progressed since then, and the EOS machine will make such a difference to patients going through it now. It was lovely chatting to all the staff about the amazing work they’re doing, and of course, to try their cakes and judge the Great St George’s Bake Off!”
The new scanner provides up to 50 times less radiation than traditional X-rays and is therefore safer for children and adults requiring scanning to manage scoliosis as their spine progressively changes.
This type of scanning provides a bridge between imaging and orthopaedic (muscle and skeletal surgery) surgery as the scans show the full skeletal structure which supports highly precise pre-surgical planning.
Mr Darren F. Lui, Consultant Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgeon at St George’s, said: “I am so proud of the team we have here, always going above and beyond, always pushing boundaries. I hope launching the new scanner and fundraising from the bake sale can raise further awareness.”
To support scoliosis research at St George’s, please visit St Georges Hospital Charity or contact giving@stgeorges.nhs.uk and quote Reference 11112.
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