CEREDIGION AM Elin Jones has called for the Welsh Government to guarantee it will meet increased costs for a new MRI scanner at Bronglais Hospital.

And as well as supporting the health board’s application for additional funding, Ms Jones has praised hospital staff for making Bronglais the best hospital in Wales and England for patients undergoing emergency laparotomy procedures and she also hailed the announcement that all GP training places in Ceredigion have been filled.

The health board has said it has applied to the Welsh Government for an extra £2.66m on top of the original funding of £2.225m for the new MRI scanner after admitting that costs had increased because of delays in being able to properly house the scanner.

Ms Jones said she had lobbied the Welsh Government to ensure that additional money is allocated.

She said: “I understand that Hywel Dda requires an additional capital funding of £2.66m in order to complete the purchase, due to the rising cost of the scanner and the cost of housing it in a suitable location in the hospital.

“As the case for the scanner has already been made, and work has been undertaken in order to accommodate it at Bronglais, I have asked that the Welsh Government grants the funding needed, so that the scanner can be installed as soon as possible.”

Ms Jones’s intervention comes as Bronglais was named the best hospital in Wales and England following an audit of emergency laparotomy procedures, with the hospital being the only one to meet all nine criteria.

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