Plans to improve healthcare premises and medical equipment across NHS Forth Valley over the next five years have been approved.

The plans form part of an ongoing capital programme which aims to ensure local NHS facilities and medical equipment are well maintained and continue to meet the needs of local patients and staff.

Over the next 12 months there are plans to purchase a range of medical equipment including a new state-of-the art CT scanner for Forth Valley Royal Hospital, ultrasound scanners and defibrillators.

NHS Forth Valley’s Head of Medical Physics, Bryan Hynd said “The new CT scanner will be able produce high resolution pictures of any organ in a few seconds and provide sharp, clear, 3D images, including detailed views of blood vessels, in an instant. The scanner will be suitable for routine diagnostic work as well as complex examinations including oncology, musculoskeletal and cardiac imaging.

“The speed of the image processing means quicker scan times which will increase the number of patients who can be seen each day and help reduce waiting times.”

Replacement endoscopy equipment will also be purchased during 2016/17 along with a number of new beds for local community hospitals. Patients are also set to benefit from 18 replacement defibrillators which will installed in community hospitals, four maternity ultrasound scanners and 10 ward-based blood pressure monitors which are WIFI enabled, allowing results to be send directly to a patient’s electronic record. Additional diabetic retinal screening cameras and equipment used to help diagnose glaucoma are being purchased to monitor patients at risk of developing eye-sight problems.

Capital funding has also been set aside to improve outpatient facilities at Stirling Community Hospital and there are also plans to build a new healthcare centre in Doune.

NHS Forth Valley’s Medical Director Miss Tracey Gillies said: “Our investment in medical equipment over the next year will ensure that patients across Forth Valley continue to benefit from the latest technology. This will not only help us maintain consistently high standards of care and treatment but will also help improve the experience of patients.”