T&A readers have won new plaudits for their amazing efforts raising a fantastic £1million in just 18 months to bring state-of-the-art MRI technology to Bradford.

Work is now well under way at Bradford Royal Infirmary to build a suite for the MRI machine which will scan 2,500 patients a year for a range of disorders.

Now Linda Pollard, chairman at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, has written an open letter to people across Bradford praising the big-hearted efforts of thousands who gave money or got involved in events to raise the magic million. The latest plaudits come on top of praise from health secretary Frank Dobson who hailed the enormous impact of the appeal in improving services for patients.

The hi-tech scanner - the most advanced of its kind in Europe - is expected to be in place by April and up and running in May. A series of open days will be held to give local people a first-hand look at what their money has bought.

An open letter to the people of Bradford

"Thanks A Million!" - the T&A's front page headline on Friday, January 22, summed up the thoughts of everybody connected with the Millennium Scanner Appeal.

In just three words, you captured the enormous gratitude we owe to the people of Bradford for turning a dream into reality by raising the money needed to buy and install the district's very own MRI scanner.

There is no doubt that this state-of-the-art technology will become the focal point for improving the health of the whole community. It will add an extra dimension to our services and, with other key hospital developments that are planned (such as our new £4m Accident and Emergency Unit) will usher in a new era of healthcare for Bradford.

A series of open days will be held later in the year when I hope as many people as possible will visit the new scanning suite and see for themselves the wonderful piece of medical equipment that their efforts have secured for the benefit of the whole community.

To raise £1m, at a time when there are so many other demands on people's pockets, is a wonderful achievement. To hit our target in just 18 months is even more remarkable - and testimony to the enthusiasm, hard work and generosity shown by the people of Bradford in rising to this challenge.

Without the pivotal role played by the T&A and its readers,

who once again have rallied round to help their local health service, I doubt that we would be in the exciting position we are now in - looking forward to scanning our first patients by the summer.

The Millennium Scanner Appeal is the first public appeal launched by the Trust. It has been a great fillip for all of us who work at your hospitals - Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital - to witness the sense of pride and 'ownership' felt by the community in the services we provide.

Although we have reached our £1m target, please keep the money rolling in!

All the money which is currently being raised, or has still to be collected, will be put to good use. In particular it will buy further enhancements that will come on line in the future.

The Trust is determined to keep pace with the fast-moving world of medicine and this scanner enables your hospitals to stay at the forefront of patient care.

On behalf of everyone connected with the appeal; staff at Bradford's hospitals; and, above all else, all the patients whose health will be improved by this technology, can I add my thanks

to each and everyone of you

who has supported the appeal.

Linda Pollard, Chairman of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust

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