PATIENTS visiting Tetbury Hospital are set to benefit from a state of the art new X-ray machine.

The new machine developed by Gloucestershire company Xograph Healthcare will be able to produce digital X-rays and will operate much more quickly than the hospital’s existing equipment.

Hospital manager Catherine Jefferies said the current machine had been in place for 15 years and was becoming outdated.

"We were approached last year by the company who wanted to use us as a showcase for the local area," she said.

"It’s going to look a lot better – the old one looks a bit 1970s."

The hospital’s X-ray equipment is currently used by all the GP services in the area but Catherine said there would be no disruption to services while the old machine is taken out and the new one installed.

"All the time that goes on we are going to have a mobile unit so people won’t miss out," she said.

"Patients will still be able to come for their orthopaedic appointments and to the minor injuries unit."

Katherine Landale of the Friends of Tetbury Hospital Committee said the organisation had raised money towards the cost of the equipment and was continuing to raise funds for the facility, which is operated by a charitable trust.

"The hospital acts as an independent subcontractor to the NHS and is paid by them for the work undertaken on their behalf," she said. "Sadly this income does not completely cover the running costs or pay for the essential equipment needed to keep pace with the advances of medical science and the extending range of services offered by the hospital.

"Hence the Friends are continually raising money to meet this shortfall and the regular income from donors, events and door to door collections."

Anyone interested in joining the Tetbury Hospital League of Friends can email k.landale@btinternet.com