Belfast City Hospital has said it hopes to have a high tech MRI scanner installed early next year.

The scanner will cost close to �1m which has been provided by special funds from the Northern Ireland Executive.

MRI scanners help doctors to accurately diagnose what is going on inside a patient's body.

They are of particular help in treating people with cancer, problems in their bone joints or those who have neurological conditions. Two-year wait

For many years Northern Ireland has had only a small number of MRI scanners for its population size.

A charity bought one to be installed at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and two scanners are in place at Musgrave Park Hospital, one of which is a small machine which can be used just for knee or elbow joints.

People classed as non-urgent cases often have to wait up to two years for a time slot on a machine.

Now there are plans to install MRIs in Antrim, Craigavon and at the Ulster hospital at Dundonald near Belfast.

These three are to be bought with National Lottery funds.

The government also plans to install scanners in Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry, up-date the one in the Royal and put a new machine in the tower block of the City hospital.