HYWEL DDA health board will recieve the biggest portion of money out of Health Minister Eluned Morgan's announcement that more than £51m will be invested to help replace older diagnostic imaging equipment across NHS Wales and to help speed up waiting times.

Hywell Dda will receive over £12m of the £51m package with £2.4m earmarked for the Prince Philip Hospital, £2.1m earmarked for Bronglais General and the rest spread around various hospitals managed by the health board.

The Welsh Government says money will go on upgrading of vital technology and equipment, including MRI and CT scanners.

The highest priorty investment for Hywel Dda was seen as CT scanners at the Prince Phillip Hospital with an intended total investment to be £2.4m, £1m going on works costs.

The extra funding will also go towards ultrasound and image intensifiers, and fluoroscopy rooms.

The funding is being brought forward in the face of worldwide shortages of diagnostic equipment caused by soaring demand.

The government say the extra funding will help ensure NHS Wales has up-to-date diagnostic facilities using the latest imaging technology. Image quality will be improved, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnosis of many common diseases, including cancer.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “We are committed to ensuring NHS Wales has the right diagnostic tools and equipment needed to care for people throughout Wales.

“By ensuring we have facilities fit for the 21st century, we can significantly improve people’s care through earlier and more accurate diagnosis and help reduce the stress and anxiety people experience while waiting for these tests.

“We have a lot of work to do to cut waiting times, but investing in the latest diagnostic technology will help support efforts to recover from the pandemic.”

Swansea Bay University Health Board received the second highest portion of the funding, being allocated £10.7m.

Since the national programme to replace diagnostic imaging equipment across Wales was established in 2018, more than £63m has been invested.

Earlier this year, £25m was announced to replace the highest priority equipment and a further £25m was committed to develop PET-CT imaging services throughout Wales.