A RETIRED long-serving hospital worker has boosted a £2m fundraising drive to buy an essential piece of medical equipment at the infirmary by holding a coffee morning with her friends.

Ethel Langford, who worked at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton for 42 years, staged the event with her neighbours for its MRI scanner appeal in the court yard of nearby Applegarth Court.

The scanners are increasingly used to diagnose a wide range of health conditions and the trust carries out over 17,000 scans every year – 7,000 of which are for patients living in the Hambleton and Richmondshire area although this figure is set to increase year-on-year.

Currently, North Yorkshire patients have to travel to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, or elsewhere, for their tests.

Installing a scanner at the Friarage would reduce waiting times for patients, enable research to be undertaken, see conditions being diagnosed more quickly and mean there could be greater working with other clinical specialties, such as the on-going orthopaedic developments, at the Friarage.

Mrs Langford said the event had been well attended, and funds from visitors buying cakes made by the residents, a raffle and a competition had seen £740 raised.

Suzi Campbell, of the MRI scanner appeal, said: “The generosity of local people never ceases to amaze me.

"We would like to say a big thank-you to Ethel and her friends and to everyone who came along to the coffee morning for their generous support.”