WITHYBUSH HOSPITALS new state-of-the-art scanner has been proving a tremendous success since it was installed in June to replace the old machine.

One of the first in the country, the G.E.Lightspeed multi-slice CT scanner is extremely rapid and versatile and is proving a boon to a whole range of specialties in the hospital.

Because it is extremely quick it is better for the breathless or those in pain and because it has a bigger aperture it is less claustrophobic, said clinical director Dr Ian Martin.

The state-of-the-art software allows us to look at things in great detail by reconstructing them in another plane in thin slices of the abdomen or chest. We can convert these to 3-D images in colour, not only speeding up diagnosis but giving us much greater diagnostic accuracy. It has many uses and the orthopaedic department is particularly delighted because it gives wonderful pictures of joints.

Hundreds of patients have already benefited from the new scanners versatility.

q In the picture (left to right) are: Dr Karen Bradshaw, consultant radiologist who started last month; Dr Arnold Williams, honorary consultant radiologist; Dr Ian Martin, clinical director; Dr John Charteris, retired consultant (on the scanner); Mrs Lynette George, chair of the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust; Mr Stuart Fletcher, Trust chief executive, and Mrs Barbara Bevan, retired superintendent radiographer. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.