A HOME has been found for the new MRI scanner at Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital, as the final phase of the £2m fundraising campaign gathers pace.

The scanner will be based at the former special care baby unit, which moved to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough nearly two years ago.

The scanner will mean thousands of patients will no longer have to go to Middlesbrough or Darlington for imaging tests. Now that a site for it has been identified consultant radiologist Dr Sheamus Fitzgerald is looking forward to offering the service closer to patients’ homes.

“It is fantastic to see the project progressing, thanks to the generosity of the people of North Yorkshire”, he said. “The staff and I are looking forward to starting scanning patients at the Friarage.”

It is hoped the final £500,000 for the scanner will be raised by the end of the year.