27 June 2018

Trust thanks MRI scanner appeal for reaching £1million target

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Chairman, David Clayton-Smith has publicly thanked the Friends of Conquest Hospital MRI Scanner Appeal for reaching their £1million target.

The appeal was launched in March last year to raise money to fund a new MRI scanner at Conquest Hospital. David Clayton-Smith publicly thanked the appeal board and Jo Brand, at the end of her sell-out charity show at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, the final staged event to raise money for the appeal.

David Clayton-Smith, Chairman East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: “I am delighted to announce that the Conquest Hospital MRI Appeal has reached its £1 million target. This tremendous achievement would not have been possible without the passion and determination of the Appeal Board and the many individuals, companies and their teams who have so generously supported the Appeal. The cumulative donations of everyone will make such a huge difference to our patients and clinicians.”

Sir Douglas Flint, the Chairman of the Appeal commented: “It has been a truly impressive effort by the local community to raise this money within 15 months. My thanks and gratitude go to all those who have contributed with their donations, however great or small, as well as those who have given their time to support the appeal. Local residents will soon be able to benefit from the many advantages that a modern, state of the art MRI Scanner will bring. It will be better, faster, quieter, and more effective in the early detection of a wide range of medical conditions including prolapsed discs, fractures and prostate cancer. A special thank you goes to the Friends of both the Conquest and Bexhill Hospitals, who have been pivotal in helping us achieve our very important goal.”

Dr Lesley Apthorp, Consultant Radiologist at Conquest Hospital, said: “This new MRI scanner, once installed and operational, will replace our existing MRI scanner, which is now outdated and unsuitable for many of our patients. Those to benefit include babies, and people requiring cardiac, prostate and small bowel scans or who suffer from claustrophobia. Technology has moved on enormously since the existing scanner was purchased in 2004. Today’s improved imaging quality now enables much more effective diagnosis, analysis and subsequent treatment of strokes and many types of cancer.”

The new MRI scanner will be installed in a new building to be built on the western side of Conquest Hospital. For more information visit the appeal website