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Radiographer Deborah Horne with one of the first patients to go through the new MRI scanner.

PATIENTS at Salisbury District Hospital can benefit from shorter waits and reduced treatment times thanks to the installation of a new £1m scanner.

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner is more powerful and faster than the previous nine-year-old model, with state of the art technology giving staff flexibility to carry out a more varied range of scans.

Tony Ley, speciality manager, said: "This really is a major service development for the hospital and the MRI scanner will provide real benefits for our patients and staff.

"A faster machine has several benefits for patients. Firstly, it will help reduce waiting times further for MRI examinations, with patients being seen within six weeks and lower.

"Secondly, the new scanner could reduce scanning times by around 40 per cent in the majority of examinations and 50 per cent for a head scan."

The new scanner is part of a five-year radiology replacement programme, which will see around £6m invested in the latest digital equipment.

The Trust has already replaced ten x-ray and ultrasound machines and plans to replace the CT scanner and other x-ray rooms.

3:04pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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