EAST Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has been given thousands of pounds to replace vital cancer scanners.
The money is part of a new programme announced by Health Secretary Alan Milburn to replace the diagnostic tools to ensure that within three years not a single such item is more than 11 years old. He has allocated £90million to replace all CT and MRI scanners installed before 1997.
East Lancashire will get the money to replace its MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging - scanner. It is vital to diagnose cancer and monitor the progress of treatment.
Mr Milburn said: "Tackling cancer is a top clinical priority in the NHS. By 2006 no scanner in the NHS will be older than the government.
"We are moving towards having cancer services up with the best in Europe after decades lagging behind. The NHS in England can today look forward to having diagnostic services as modern as any country in Europe.
"Real progress is now being made in cancer services - as a result of investment, reform and the hard work and commitment of NHS staff.
"There is, of course, a long way to go. Like the rest of the NHS, cancer services are now turning the corner."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article