March 1, 2019 3.26 pm This story is over 68 months old

Louth hospital to get MRI suite thanks to fundraising appeal

Ready for the first patients this summer
ULHT's MRI Service Lead Chris Bilton and Chairman of the fundraising appeal Trevor Marris after the target was hit for building the new MRI suite. Photo: ULHT

Plans to renovate a former laundry building into an £850,000 MRI suite for the Louth hospital have been approved after a long-running fundraising appeal.

The suite will include the sophisticated £465,000 MRI scanner, clinical rooms and waiting areas for both outpatients and inpatients.

It will be located at the front of the hospital grounds. It is expected that 8,000 patients a year from Louth and the surrounding rural areas will use the scanner at the hospital rather than having to travel further afield.

The new MRI suite at County Hospital Louth could open this summer. Photo: ULHT

The scanner will enable more detailed and faster scans. It will also help to improve cancer treatment as patients can be scanned earlier.

ULHT will now need to find local contractors to carry out the renovations which should be complete before the end of the summer.

Chairman of the appeal Trevor Marris started fundraising back in 2004 while serving as the Mayor of Louth.

He said: “I am elated for the people of Louth that the appeal has been a success. It’s taken us many years to get where we are but we have never given up and can now say we have made it. The plans look great and we can expect to see the first patients using the scanner towards the end of summer.

“The appeal has been supported by people from across Lincolnshire and we are grateful for all of those who have been involved, especially the appeal committee. Without everyone’s support, this would not have been possible.”

ULHT’s MRI Service Lead Chris Bilton said: “The MRI suite, which will be located at the front of the hospital grounds, will be a great addition to County Hospital Louth.

“The scanner will provide us with much more detailed and faster scans. It will also help to improve cancer treatment as patients can be scanned earlier, leading to a quicker diagnosis and therefore being able to start treatment sooner.

“This is a huge step forward for the hospital, and we couldn’t have done it without the appeal and the support it has received from local people.”