The donation of a new ultrasound scanning machine to a hospital in Redditch is set to benefit more than 500 patients with suspected urological conditions.

The machine in Alexandra Hospital, purchased after donations of more than £75,000 by the hospital's League of Friends, is used as a diagnostic tool to scan organs such as the kidney, liver, bladder, and gallbladder.

The new scanner is expected to help patients receive their treatment or investigations more quickly by enabling more prostate biopsies to be carried out which will help to reduce waiting times for patients.

The new machine is the urology department's second ultrasound scanner at the hospital, allowing two patients to receive treatment or investigations simultaneously.

The machine is also equipped with software updates.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

Vincent Ko, consultant urologist, said: "This new scanner will increase our capacity to do more prostate biopsies at shorter waiting times.

"We can also use it to perform kidney stone surgery by targeting the kidney to accurately make a puncture hole to access the stone directly.

"With this second scanner, we are now able to perform more procedures as we can offer prostate biopsies at the same time as kidney stone surgery within the department."

Rosemary Dixon, chairman of the Alexandra Hospital League of Friends, said: "When we were made aware of the benefit that this equipment would bring to the local community we were delighted to help purchase the scanner.

"We are also aware of how anxious people can become whilst waiting for a diagnosis and how an early scan can bring good news to those who need no further treatment."