ALTRINCHAM’S new £17m hospital will provide a much improved X-ray service - thanks to new digital radiography equipment costing £350,000.

The long-awaited hospital is nearing completion and is due to open in late April.

It’s X-ray gear will produce higher quality images much more quickly – they will be available for staff to preview within five seconds, both on the Altrincham site and at other hospital sites within the trust for review by specialist consultant radiologists if required to aid diagnosis.

Health chiefs say this will speed things up and is likely to reduce patient waiting times.

The new equipment will be wall mounted in adjacent rooms and have mobile plates which enable the X-ray machines to come to the patient, offering both convenience and flexibility.

The hours of the Altrincham X-ray service have already been extended by 12 hours a week in preparation for the opening of the new hospital.

They are now in line with the opening hours of the hospital’s minor injuries unit and there is a radiographer on site from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm at weekends.

In the new hospital development, the X-ray and ultrasound rooms and reception areas are located on the ground floor and have been designed to meet a range of patient needs, including those with mobility and sensory disabilities.

Patient dignity and privacy has also been taken into consideration, and dual aspect changing cubicles with access to both the examination rooms and the corridor, will provide increased privacy for patients who need to undress before treatment.

The new purpose-built community hospital on Railway Street will replace the existing hospital on Market Street which dates back to Victorian times.

All existing services will transfer to the new facility, including the nurse-led minor injuries unit for the assessment and treatment of minor conditions including fractures, burns and wounds. In addition, there will be a number of new and extended services including a new renal dialysis unit, a major expansion of ophthalmic clinics, and expanded adult and children’s audiology services.

Beth Weston, director of Trafford hospitals, said: “We are delighted that our plans to create a new state-of-the-art community hospital for Altrincham are close to fruition. “This development will provide an expanded range of general and specialist health services in a modern, high quality healthcare environment. The new X-ray equipment will be a major asset and provide improved diagnostic support to many of our services.”

The new Altrincham Hospital will provide a wide range of general and specialist out-patient and diagnostic services including:

Audiology (hearing problems);

Cardiology (heart conditions);

Clinical Haematology;

General Surgery (including Thyroid and Colorectal); Dermatology (skin complaints);

Diabetes;

Dietetics;

Elderly Medicine;

ENT (ear, nose and throat) – expanded service; Gastroenterology;

Gynaecology;

Minor injuries unit, nurse-led;

Ophthalmology – expanded service;

Orthopaedics;

Pain management;

Phlebotomy (blood tests);

Physiotherapy;

Podiatry;

Radiology – X-ray and ultrasound;

Renal dialysis – new service;

Respiratory (chest conditions);

Rheumatology (musculoskeletal conditions);

Urology;

Vascular (conditions relating to the blood vessels.