West Cumberland Hospital has recently seen the installation of a sophisticated new scanner costing more than £750,000.

This state-of-the-art machine, previously only available in Carlisle, is set to bring care closer to home with better diagnosis capability.

Maxine Mitchell, Chief Clinical Technologist, Medical Physics at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The scanner is a hybrid imaging system which means it is able to take two different types of images.

"The first part of the scan involves imaging the distribution of a radioactive agent. This is a way of finding out the function of the body system if necessary in 3D.

"That means the images can tell you how something is working and if it is working how you expect it to be.

"The other part of the scan is a CT scan which shows you an anatomical image of the body part. This allows you to see if the part of the body you are analysing looks like it is supposed to.”

The hybrid scanner can be used on adults and children to diagnose a range of conditions.

Anna George, lead nurse for Medical Physics said: “Now we have this technology here as well as the Cumberland Infirmary, it means that we can see twice as many patients.

"But more importantly, it means that west Cumbria patients who need these tests and scans can come here for them.

"Around five patients a week had to travel to Carlisle for heart scans alone and around 40 per cent of all nuclear medicine tests are for patients in west Cumbria so it really will benefit a lot of people.”

Malcolm Cavanaugh, a heart patient who previously had to travel to Carlisle twice for testing, said: “It means a lot personally... You haven’t got to travel as far and if anything goes wrong, you’re close to home."

The scanner isn't only good news for patients.

Anna hopes the sophisticated equipment will bolster future recruitment and staff retention.

One new recruit, Lydia Shamsudin, said: "I can’t stress enough what a great opportunity it is for me to do an apprenticeship here.

"The fact they have invested in the equipment and the workforce here is so good. I hope that it opens up opportunities for others in the future.”

The hospital was redeveloped to host the new scanner, resulting in a new environment for other services too.

Maxine said: “We give our sincere thanks to the Sellafield charity snowball who donated £1000 so we could buy new patient scales with an integrated height bar and a TV with a DVD player so that children who need scans can watch their favourite cartoon or tv programme.”

An official opening for the scanner and department will occur on October 25, with local fundraiser Gary McKee as the guest of honour.