A NEW, state of the art £2 million MRI scanner has been delivered to Kidderminster Hospital.

This development will offer patients access to the latest diagnostic procedures including faster scanning techniques, and the opportunity to develop new services for instance, breast MRI for new cancers and follow ups, and whole body imaging to show cancer spread.

The new scanner was transferred by crane into the imaging department. It will replace the current mobile scanning service and will be in use for extended hours, reducing waiting times for patients and allowing them to have scans after normal working hours.

Victoria Clegg, MRI superintendent radiographer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are all very excited about the delivery of this new piece of state of the art equipment.

“We will be able to provide a one stop access to patients attending outpatient clinics on site, considerably reducing the time from first outpatient appointment to diagnosis, and therefore treatment.

“Also, examination times will be considerably reduced for example some examinations which would have taken an hour previously, will now be possible in 20 minutes, reducing anxiety while still improving the quality of the image that we receive.”

Michael O’Riordan, chairman of the trust, said: “This new scanner is the most up to date that money can buy and is available to provide the very latest scanning techniques.

“It also has increased capacity, allowing us to carry out 9,400 scans a year at Kidderminster.

“We are delighted that Wyre Forest patients are going to benefit from this and are looking forward to welcoming the first patients at the end of October.”