DORSET County Hospital has been selected to receive a share of £200 million in funding for new cancer screening equipment.

The money will be split between 78 different NHS Trusts across the country and will be used to replace, refurbish and upgrade existing cancer screening equipment over the next two years.

This will include bringing in alternatives to CT and MRI scanners which have lower radiation levels and also upgrading breast screening imaging and assessment equipment.

The Department for Health and Social Care claims that replacing and upgrading machines will improve the efficiency of hospitals.

It has not yet been confirmed how much money will be allocated to Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust from the overall £200 million. Each trust will be allocated funding for new machines based on the quality and age of their current equipment and the local population needs of each trust.

No-one at the hospital was available for comment.

Naomi Patterson, West Dorset Public Hospital Governor, said: "It’s a very welcomed investment. I was pleased to see DCH on the list and I’m sure it will make such a positive difference to many lives.

"Sadly though, for patients treatment doesn’t just stop there once you have your diagnosis, funds would still be needed to ensure all patients get the correct care they need from GP referral until the end of care with well staffed hospitals.

"Raising the awareness of all cancers is also vital especially rare cancers so we all know the vital signs to look out for.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This new state-of-the-art equipment for 78 trusts across England will ensure doctors and clinicians can help even more people survive a cancer diagnosis and stop the disease as early as possible.

"It’s mission critical that the technology our NHS uses to prevent and diagnose cancer is brought into the 21st century."

Cally Palmer, National Cancer Director at NHS England, said: "Cancer survival is at a record high thanks to better prevention, earlier diagnosis and world-leading treatments in the NHS.

"This major investment in the best modern scanning technology will benefit patients in every part of England, helping us to achieve the NHS Long Term Plan’s ambitions of catching tens of thousands more cancers earlier when they are easier to treat, saving 55,000 more lives every year."

Hilary Maxwell, Chair of GO Girls who campaigns to raise awareness of and supports earlier diagnosis for gynaecological cancers said:  “Any additional funding which enables greater capacity for earlier diagnostics for cancer is good news. 

"With the need to diagnose, or not, cancers within 28 days by 2020, having more available imaging facilities is very welcome and it will make a significant difference to those undergoing investigations for suspected cancers.”

Julia Morris Radiology Services Manager said: “We are very privileged here at Dorset County Hospital to have been awarded funding towards our new CT scanner and new mammography equipment. 

"The new equipment will go a long way in aiding our amazing teams in the early detection of cancer and providing follow up imaging for existing cancer patients. With technology evolving every day the funding brings us lower radiation doses, faster scanning and exceptional image quality.”