A SECOND ultrasound scanner has been installed at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, which should ensure quicker diagnoses for patients with mouth and throat cancer.

Bosses were delighted to see the £30,000 machine delivered, thanks to a donation by the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, to support the treatment of patients with lumps in their head or neck.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Previously, patients would attend a clinic if their lump was considered suspicious, and would then be given an appointment for further investigation, before returning for a third time to receive the diagnosis.

But the new machine means that patients can have highly accurate diagnostic procedures at their first clinic attendance, within a couple of hours, by more than doubling the number of scans that can be performed.

Mr Paddy Morar, an ear, nose and throat consultant at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Huge thanks to Rosemere and their supporters for this kind donation which enabled us to purchase this new ultrasound machine.

“This will be an invaluable piece of equipment allowing for a much more accurate diagnosis of patients presenting to the clinic and will enable us to be truly ‘one-stop’ .”

An ultrasound scan, sometimes called a sonogram, is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of part of the inside of the body. It usually takes between 15 and 45 minutes.

Sue Thompson, chief officer for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, which support cancer services in Lancashire and South Cumbria, said: “This equipment will lead to a much faster, more accurate and more patient centred diagnostic service for anyone in the local area unlucky enough to discover a lump in the head and neck area.”

She added: “We are very grateful to all our supporters across East Lancashire who have helped raise the funds for this equipment.”