A NEW, life-saving CT scanner is to be bought for Blackburn Royal Infirmary to serve the whole of East Lancashire.

The machine will replace the scanner which was bought by Lancashire Evening Telegraph readers ten years ago.

Hospital chiefs agreed to the purchase after hearing the machine, which is used to detect all types of cancer and serious head injuries, is starting to show signs of wear and tear.

Endowment funds donated by East Lancashire residents during the 1987 appeal will be used to buy the new machine.

Running costs will be funded partly from savings in maintenance contracts arising from the use of insurance cover and from the balance available in the endowment funds.

The new machine will complement the new MRI scanner which should be up and running by the end of July.

John Thomas, chief executive of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said: "I am delighted that we will be able to fund the purchase of a new, higher performance CT scanner from existing endowment funds which were raised during the original scanner appeal in 1987.

"We are extremely grateful for the generosity of local people in their continuing support for this trust."

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