A MAJOR expansion programme is set to double the scanning capacity at Worcestershire's hospitals.

Two new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are being installed in the county over the next 18 months in a bid to dramatically reduce the waiting times for scans.

The first £600,000 piece of equipment should be put in place at Kidderminster Hospital's Diagnostic Treatment Centre in December this year.

The second will be installed at Redditch's Alexandra Hospital by December next year.

The MRI scanner at Worcestershire Royal Hospital is also going to be used more frequently.

The Evening News revealed last December that it was being left unused for hours each day because of a lack of funding for staff to operate it.

It currently operates for 24 hours a week. Next month, this will be increased to 30, and in June it will be raised to 36.

However, the mobile scanning service that currently visits Redditch and Kidderminster will be scrapped to release funds for the new scanners.

Money for the Redditch scanner will come from the Arden Cancer Network, which funds services in the east of Worcestershire.

Chris Phillips, senior consultant radiologist for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and clinical director for radiology, said people were starting to recognise the importance of radiology.

"We're changing the way we provide the service," he said. "Once the new scanners are put in place, it will double the capacity for scanning."

The MRI scanners are used to detect joint and back problems, and diagnose and analyse cancers. They also detect brain disorders.

"The way we are going to reprovide the service could seem to be a retrograde step, downgrading services in some parts of the county, but we will be providing more service," said Mr Phillips.

He said the overhaul would bring waiting times for scanning down to weeks rather than months.

"From our point of view, this is good news," he said.

"We're frustrated when demand exceeds capacity."