CEREDIGION AM Elin Jones has vowed to continue pushing the Welsh Government to provide increased funding for a new MRI scanner for Bronglais Hospital.

Ms Jones called for health minister Vaughan Gething to ensure that increased costs for the new scanner would be met by the Welsh Assembly after it emerged in November that issues around finding a suitable location for the scanner and new, more technologically advanced and more expensive scanners coming on the market, had seen the price increase.

The health board has said it has applied to the Welsh Government for increased funding and is waiting for a decision.

In a letter to Ms Jones, Mr Gething said Welsh Government officials were “working with” health board representatives on the issue.

He said: “I approved the replacement MRI scanner in June 2016 as part of the National Imaging Programme.

“Of the £2.225m of funding agreed for the purchase of the scanner, £1.125m was made available to take the scheme forward. A key condition of the approval was that the MRI scanner could be delivered and installed by 31 March 2018.

“This funding was allocated following assurances provided by Hywel Dda Health Board around the total estimated scheme costs for the equipment and the necessary building works.

“Following the initial approval, a revised proposal was submitted some 15 months later which set out a revised cost of £4.885m and a delivery period of 13 months.

“Given the significant shift in the costs, my officials are continuing to work with the health board to find a viable solution.”

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now