The new equipment has reduced waiting times for scans

A South West hospital has started using a new scanner which managers have said will dramatically improve the way patients are diagnosed.

CT scanners (computerised tomography) uses x-rays to look closely inside the soft tissue of the human body.

Derriford Hospital in Plymouth carries out more than 18,000 such scans a year and says the new equipment will be able to monitor patients more effectively.

The investment of more than �500,000 on the new scanner equipment has seen the hospital already reduce waiting times for scans.

Computer processing

CT scanning takes images from different angles around the body. A computer then processes the images to show a cross-section of tissues and organs.

The hospital has said the new scanner is part of its modernisation process and that it has already reduced the longest waiting times for CT scans from 34 weeks in April 2002 to 12 weeks by March.

Consultant radiologist Dr Bruce Fox said: "It also gives us the ability to look at very thin sections of the body and give us better detail.

Patients now go into the scanner feet first

"So, overall patients are going to win both ways."

Patient William Payne, from Saltash in Cornwall, is regularly scanned as part of an ongoing treatment programme, and has had to use both the old and new machines

He said: "I think it's a bit easier than the older machine because it is the reverse of what used to happen.

"With the old one, you went in head first. But this one you go in feet first, so it's not claustrophobic."

Derriford is about to start work on obtaining a new MRI scanner as well.

The progress in technology means NHS patients are now more regularly being offered better screening to help diagnose conditions.