A new state-of-the-art scanner for cancer patients has been opened at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

The Forever Friends Appeal, the charity of the RUH, has raised £650,000 to buy the Gamma-CT scanner.

It was officially being opened today by Lady Gass, the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset.

John Cullum, chairman of the Forever Friends Appeal, said: “I continue to be amazed at the generosity of so many people. It is heart warming to hear of the stories of why and how people raise money to support this wonderful cause. On behalf of the appeal I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one.”

Martyn Evans, head of nuclear medicine at the RUH, said: “The Gamma-CT scanner is the latest in modern technology. Its function enables us to perform the most complex scans to detect certain types of cancer as well as cardiac and neurological disorders, producing clear imagery to help us give an informed diagnosis for our patients.

“We are one of the only hospitals in the south west to have such a sophisticated scanner and we are truly grateful to the Forever Friends Appeal and all their supporters who helped this to happen.”

The scanner was the first phase of the Forever Friends Appeal’s cancer care campaign, with many fundraising efforts centred throughout Wiltshire.

It is now aiming to raise £5 million over the next four years towards the cost of building a £20.5 million new cancer centre at the RUH