SALISBURY District Hospital is one of 78 trusts that has been chosen to benefit from funding for new cancer testing and detection technology.

The money allocated to Salisbury District Hospital will be used to replace the 10-year-old MRI scanner already onsite, which is a machine that improves screening and early diagnosis of cancer.

This machine would be in addition to the one that will be coming soon thanks to the Stars Appeal.  

Last month, the Prime Minister announced the extra £200 million in funding for new cancer screening equipment.

And 78 trusts will receive funding over the next two years to replace, refurbish and upgrade CT and MRI scanners.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This new state-of-the-art equipment for 78 trusts across England will ensure doctors and clinicians can help even more people survive a cancer diagnosis and stop the disease as early as possible.

"It’s mission critical that the technology our NHS uses to prevent and diagnose cancer is brought into the 21st century. We have backed the roll-out of these new machines with £200 million in funding, as part of our Long Term Plan, backed by an extra £33.9 billion a year."

Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director at NHS England, said: "Cancer survival is at a record high thanks to better prevention, earlier diagnosis and world-leading treatments in the NHS.

"This major investment in the best modern scanning technology will benefit patients in every part of England, helping us to achieve the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambitions of catching tens of thousands more cancers earlier when they are easier to treat, saving 55,000 more lives every year."

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed the announcement and said: "Replacing and upgrading machines will improve efficiency as they are easier to use, they scan and construct images quicker, and reduce the need to re-scan.

"This development fits into our existing programme to transform our services and to use modern technology.

"The Trust hopes that a new MRI scan and other technology across the hospital will help improve our patients’ care and will lead to earlier diagnosis, which is vital to saving lives."