£2m scanner boosts care in Lothians

A REVOLUTIONARY £2 million scanner which will help thousands of patients across the Lothians is now in place.

The much-anticipated CT scanner, which is the world's most advanced, was donated by the Royal Bank of Scotland and will be fully operational later this year.

It was given to NHS Lothian and Edinburgh University's Queen's Medical Research Institute and will transform patient care, particularly those with brain and heart problems.

The Toshiba Aquilion One 320 Slice can scan entire organs in 3D in a fraction of a second, producing prompt results and saving some people intrusive treatments.

There had been plans for RBS staff to have priority use of the machine when the donation was made, but after the financial crash that clause was removed and it is now free to everyone.

Prof David Newby, co-director of the QMRI's Clinical Research Imaging Centre, said: "The potential of new imaging technologies lies not only in replacing more intrusive tests but also in helping us to better understand and treat conditions such as heart disease, cancer and strokes.

"The scanner, as part of an integrated approach encompassing a range of equipment, will enable the centre to carry out cutting edge research."