THE Alexandra Hospital's League of Friends has pledged to raise the £25,000 needed to buy a vital piece of medical equipment.
The League wants to buy a new portable ultrasound scanner after a report revealed an 11 per cent increase in the number of people being examined with the equipment over three years.
The recent hospital summer fete raised £7,000 towards this project.
A spokesman at the Woodrow Drive hospital said: "This unit will be of enormous benefit in supporting the increased number of procedures that require ultrasound guidance.
"The procedures are often lengthy as they require small tubes to be placed inside the patient using ultrasound to help the radiologist guide the tubes to the right place.
"They are also often undertaken on an urgent basis so this equipment will help to avoid any difficulty in accessing the existing ultrasound units which are already well used on routine outpatient and inpatient examinations."
He said the equipment would also be used in ITU and A&E when the patient's condition makes it advisable for them to be moved to the main department.
In the last 20 years, the League has bought a CT scanner, a mammography machine, intensive care beds and eye laser equipment. It has also helped create the garden suite, children's outdoor play area and a memorial garden for babies.
League chairman Pat Hadley said: "We're so pleased with this result. So many people came to support us, despite the event clashing with the football!"
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