THOUSANDS of patients could have illnesses diagnosed earlier following a £500,000 upgrade to a Droitwich-based medical scanner.

People throughout Worcestershire are set to benefit from more accurate scans and the potential for faster scanning times by the upgraded MRI scanner at the Worcestershire Imaging Centre (WIC).

The facility, based in Orchard House, adjacent to the well-known Droitwich Knee Clinic, has successfully completed a £500,000 improvement of the scanner to ensure it remains at the forefront of the specialist area of health diagnostic technology.

The MRI scanner has undergone the major upgrade to provide leading magnet technology and advanced software performance.

The upgrade will lead to a marked improvement in diagnostic ability in many areas including neurology, angiography, orthopaedics, breast and pelvic scans.

WIC is proud of its 16 year long history providing the only non-hospital based MRI scanning facilities in the county offering a relaxed, stress-free environment for their patients which is of particular benefit to the more anxious patients. The centre, which is independently owned provides a quick and efficient service for private as well as NHS patients.

Mr Peter Turner, orthopaedic surgeon and managing director at the Worcestershire Imaging Centre, said: “We continue to pride ourselves on the personal service we give our patients, and we are very excited about this important upgrade to our MRI technology which currently makes us the most advanced 1.5T MRI scanner in the county.”

NHS and private patients who wish to be seen at the Worcestershire Imaging Centre for their MRI scan must ask for a referral to be made to the centre by their GP, physiotherapist or other suitably qualified clinician.