PATIENTS suffering from vascular birthmarks across the North-East will benefit from a new ultrasound machine to treat birthmarks without the need for any surgery.

The James Cook University Hospital birthmark clinic - led by plastic surgeon Mr Tobian Muir - has performed 2,500 injection treatments to patients from all over the region, the UK and as far afield as Sweden and Bulgaria.

The specialised treatment is provided by a team of highly-skilled anaesthetic, radiology and paediatric clinicians working with Mr Muir at the Middlesbrough hospital.

The generous donation of the £21,000 ultrasound machine by the James Cook Voluntary Services charity will benefit the 120 new patients seen in the clinic every year as well as the patients currently receiving regular treatments.

Mr Muir said: “We are exceedingly grateful to Ann McCormack and the many volunteers who give up their time for the benefit of patients.

"The brand new ultrasound machine will ensure safer and more effective treatment for the many patients that come to our unit; many with previously untreatable or complex birthmarks.”

One of the younger patients to benefit is Jack Thornton from Newcastle, who was born with a lymphatic malformation of his face.

After a sudden swelling of the birthmark, he was treated with four bleomycin injections under general anaesthetic. He now shows a significant improvement and normalisation of his face.

The new ultrasound machine’s improved picture quality will allow Mr Muir’s team to try and further improve Jack’s birthmark.