AN MRI scanner would be a great advance in local medical care. Consultant geriatrician Steve Evans said the equipment would represent a major step forward for the island’s healthcare system.

‘An MRI scanner is an extremely useful diagnostic tool, particularly in the specialties of orthopaedics, neurology and stroke disease and having this facility available locally will be of huge benefit to islanders,’ he said.

A public fund-raising appeal will soon be launched with the aim of buying an MRI scanner for the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Credit Suisse has already pledged £300,000 as part of its celebration of its first 20 years in Guernsey.

In the region of 600 Guernsey patients annually are sent to Jersey for MRI scans while some travel to Southampton and a few go privately elsewhere in the UK.

Dr Evans said a scanner would benefit other patients too.

‘It will also have the added advantage of enabling a significant number of patients too frail to travel, to receive this service on island,’ he said.

An MRI scanner would cost £750,000 plus a further £200,000 for IT upgrading.

Health minister Peter Roffey said the hospital could make the purchase if the £750,000 was raised as any shortfall beyond that could be met through borrowing, as the machine would generate some income.