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Last Updated: Tuesday, 19 October, 2004, 05:26 GMT 06:26 UK
Scanning suite cuts waiting times
CT scanner control area
The new scanning suite carries out 900 examinations a week
Cornwall's main hospital says waiting times for CT scans have fallen dramatically in the past few months.

A new £2m scanning suite was introduced at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in the spring and was officially opened by Health Secretary John Reid last week.

The new suite can carry out 900 examinations a week and it has cut delays from 18 months to four weeks.

The suite brings together CT, vascular and ultrasound work in one purpose-built unit.

Huge difference

CT scanners (computerised tomography) use x-rays to look closely inside the soft tissue of the human body.

They take images from different angles around the body and a computer then processes the images to show a cross-section of tissues and organs.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust says the unit has made a huge difference to patients waiting for CT scans.

More than £1m for the scanning suite came from the government and New Opportunities Funding, while another £250,000 was contributed by the Sunrise Appeal.

The Trust says staff had been under immense pressure until now attempting to cope with only one scanner.


SEE ALSO:
Hospital staff to pay for parking
07 Oct 04  |  Cornwall
Row over medical school parking
04 Oct 04  |  Cornwall
Students go in at the sharp end
06 Sep 04  |  Devon
Applications rise for med school
25 Jun 04  |  Devon
Scanner helps reduce waiting lists
12 May 03  |  Devon


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