The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy, is to unveil a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner which has been purchased by the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).

The League of Friends launched a £1 million appeal to fund the new scanner to mark their 50th anniversary.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has replaced its two existing MRI scanners, at RSH and at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, as part of a £1.7m investment. The fundraising efforts of the League of Friends meant that SaTH could invest in a third scanner, meaning even more patients can be seen.

The new scanner will be unveiled at a special ceremony at RSH on March 22. Following the ceremony, members of staff and volunteers from the League of Friends will get the chance to see the new scanner and the new suite in which it will be housed.

Simon Wright, chief executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said the new scanner would bring enormous benefits to patients across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.

Simon, who aided the fundraising effort by climbing four volcanoes in Sicily in six days, said: “We are extremely grateful to the League of Friends and all their sponsors and volunteers for providing SaTH with a new, state-of-the-art, MRI Scanner.

“The MRI appeal was launched by the League of Friends to celebrate their 50th anniversary. They have been providing support for patients since 1966. A huge £1 million has been raised and MRI was chosen as it benefits such a wide variety of our patients and their care.”

The MRI scanner will come into clinical use at the beginning of April and will be immediately running for extended days in order to boost SaTH’s Radiology Department diagnostic services.

Ray Smith, chair of the League of Friends, said: “We are so grateful to the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales for the unstinting support that they have once again given us for this appeal.

“I know that everyone who has supported our drive for funds will take enormous comfort in the fact that 100% of monies raised have been used for the purchase of the scanner and that there are no administrative expenses. Our fundraising organisation is entirely staffed by very able and willing volunteers.”