New scanner facilities for Moray’s biggest hospital have moved a step closer after the Scottish Government approved initial plans.
NHS Grampian wants to install a MRI scanner at Dr Gray’s to reduce the need for patients to travel to Aberdeen for appointments.
The equipment is part of a £56million project from the health board to cut waiting times across the region.
And health bosses also hope the commitment of extra facilities to the Elgin unit will make it more attractive for potential recruits considering moving to the region.
Pam Dudek, NHS Grampian’s operational lead for Dr Gray’s, said: “This MRI scanner will provide more local service for patients in the Moray area as well as those from the north and west of Aberdeenshire.
“This will be more convenient for patients, but also we anticipate that this will prove to be a helpful development from a hospital recruitment perspective.
“In the meantime we are conducting feasibility work regarding the practicalities of where on the Dr Gray’s site to locate this exciting new development and progressing all necessary work locally in readiness to move forwards as quickly as we can.”
MRI scanners use magnets and radio waves to develop images of internal organs and can be used to detect tumours, blood blots, diagnose a stroke or examine spinal injuries among other uses.
A public appeal to buy the hospital’s first CT scanner, which uses x-rays, raised more than £1million through a public appeal in the 1990s.
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead hopes the new facilities will have “enormous benefits” for local patients.
He said: “This major investment would enhance Dr Gray’s role and also help attract other medical professions to work at the hospital, which is a win-win.
“This project is also part of a wider agenda I am discussing with NHS Grampian to deliver more services at Dr Gray’s to reduce the number of journeys to Aberdeen or elsewhere patients are required to undertake for treatments or appointments.”
The final business case for the £56million project, which includes a new building for respiratory, dermatology and urology patients at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary as well as new MRI and CT scanners for the hospital, is expected to be submitted for approval to the Scottish Government in autumn next year.
