A TV gardener has opened a new £2.4m imaging department at a private hospital in Winchester.
Alan Titchmarsh opened the new suite of diagnostic equipment at Sarum Road Hospital which will enable them to see an extra 1,300 patients a year.
The investment has seen the arrival of a static MRI scanner and a remodelling of the diagnostic imaging department. Both developments will play an integral role in support the hospital and patients for years to come.
This latest generation of scanning equipment reduces the amount of time taken to scan and provides the radiographer with a fully digital picture of the patient’s condition in hours, not weeks. With demand for diagnostic imaging at an all-time high and diagnostic delays impacting the overall waiting times for patients across Hampshire, the new MRI scanner at Sarum Road Hospital will make a significant impact locally.
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Mr Titchmarsh enjoyed a tour of the hospital and new imaging suite, in addition to being given an overview of how the Siemens MRI Scanner worked by members of the imaging and diagnostics team.
Mr Titchmarsh said: “I know from personal experience the value of modern diagnostic equipment in medicine, and I am both honoured and delighted to have been asked to open the new unit in Winchester. My admiration for the health service in this part of Hampshire - especially knowing the challenges they face daily - remains staunch and enduring. This unit will help save and prolong the lives of so many and I congratulate all those involved with its installation and operation.”
Martin Page, executive director of Sarum Road Hospital, said: “Our new MRI scanner will ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of the thousands of patients that chose to have their treatment at Sarum Road Hospital each year. Modern, high quality diagnostic equipment is essential for getting patients onto the right treatment pathway as quickly as possible and with this new facility now open, we are confident that we can deliver that. On behalf of our staff and consultants I would like to thank Mr Titchmarsh for joining us at the hospital and formally opening the new imaging suite.”
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