A £196,000 X-ray machine has been generously donated by the League of Friends of Stratton Hospital in memory of Candy Baker MBE.

From Monday, February 14, work got underway to install the new digital X-ray machine at Stratton Hospital.

The machine has been generously donated to the hospital in memory of Candy, who was a long-standing member of the League of Friends. Alongside the late Ray Hockin, Candy spearheaded the Friends’ £1-million fundraising campaign. The money from this campaign which is paying for the new X-ray machine.

Ann Furse, chair of the League of Friends, said: “We’re delighted to buy the hospital a new X-ray machine and to see it’s installation work get underway. Back in 1999 we were able to fund 40% of the machine which is now being replaced and which has served the local community well for the past 22 years. I hope our new X-ray will prove to be an even better investment.”

Once installed, the X-ray machine will continue to be operated by radiographers from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust who take between 500 and 600 X-rays in the hospital each month.

Sarah Washer, hospital matron said: “We are immensely grateful to the League of Friends for this generous donation. The modern technology will make a huge difference to the staff as well as improving patient care.

“Being able to provide an X-ray service from most of our community hospitals across Cornwall is just one example of how services are integrated across different providers to deliver services close to where people live.”

There will be no changes to services at the hospital, however, while work to install the replacement equipment takes place, X-ray services will be limited at the hospital. The work is due to be completed by April this year.

In the meantime anyone who needs to access X-ray services that cannot be provided at Stratton will be able to access these services from Bodmin Hospital and will be referred by a GP or staff in the minor injury unit.

The minor injury unit will continue to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone who needs to access the unit, should call NHS 111 or use the online symptom checker before travelling to the unit.

Expert call handlers will direct people to the best service for their needs, which could include a GP or pharmacy.

Once the installation is complete in April, the X-ray will return to its usual opening hours of Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.