Stroud Hospital can now offer patients a more detailed diagnosis and quicker examination thanks to a new ultrasound scanner donated by the League of Friends.

The £65,000 Toshiba Aplio 500 machine will provide clearer, detailed scans for pregnant women and patients with liver, gall bladder, kidney and gynecological conditions.

The machine will replace an older model at the hospital, and can upload captured images to a central computer for storage. These can be shared with a range of healthcare specialists in the county.

Consultants at Stroud Hospital, run by Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, the maternity hospital, run by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and local GPs, will all be able to refer their patients for a variety of ultrasound scans due to the range of attachments on the machine. They can be used to accurately scan each patient, depending on their condition.

Cheryl Davies, Lead Sonographer at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GHFT) said: “The images are easier to obtain, offering patients shorter examination times and allowing the department to run more efficiently. Thanks to this up-to-date equipment, we can continue to provide high quality ultrasound imaging for the people of Stroud.”

The technology means that patients can be cared for locally, and don’t need to travel to Cheltenham or Gloucester to be seen.

Vivien Mortimore, Head of Midwifery Services and Divisional Director of Nursing and Midwifery at GHFT added: “This equipment will enable us to obtain the high quality images that are so essential in maternity services and for many other specialist diagnostic procedures.

“The scans will greatly benefit our pregnant mums and many other patients. We really appreciate the generosity of The Stroud League of Friends, whose significant contribution enhances the care provided by the NHS in Gloucestershire.”

Ultrasound technology has been used in Stroud since the 1970s, and the League of Friends has helped to update every machine.

Dr Roy Lamb, President of Stroud League of Friends, said: “This is a continuation of the excellent service we provide at Stroud, and is a great credit to the people in the community who have supported us.”

Katie Norton, Chief Executive at Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, said: “I want to extend our gratitude to the League of Friends for their continuing commitment to working with us, on behalf of the community, to improve services. I am delighted to be celebrating this partnership with them.”