Patients who suffer from distressing cancers which prevent them from eating are set to benefit from a new scanner to be installed at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The hi-tech C-Arm will enable doctors to use the machine's pin-point accuracy to help hundreds of patients each year to lead a better life.

The machine - which costs in excess of £300,000 - will be of particular benefit to patients with throat cancer who are unable to swallow and need tubes inserted in their bodies to help them feed.

By giving medics a clear view of patients from several different angles, the machine helps doctors accurately position tubes and instruments during more complicated procedures.

The scanner - which will arrive this year - will be housed in its own room and allow doctors 24 hour access to the machine to help those with head and neck cancers.

Previously the procedure was only able to be done one day a week because a room had to be shared with those undergoing vascular procedures.

Dr Roger Lowe, consultant radiologist for Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: "This is a special piece of X-ray equipment.

"The key is it can swing round a patient. The machine moves rather than the patient.

"It is another big step forward. It will benefit hundreds of patients a year."

The machine comes on the back of the completion of the new radiology suite in June, which houses MRI and CT scanners for the BRI site.

A new state-of-the-art CT scanner will arrive soon to add a further dimension to the service.

It is all part of a programme of investment spearheaded by a £1 million boost for new medical equipment.

In this financial year a total of £3 million will be ploughed into new equipment and facilities.

This will also include upgrading for the department for eye outpatients, taking forward research and development, expanding the Trust's role as a medical school by training doctors of the future and increasing and improving computer technology on wards as part of the NHS Connecting for Health Programme.

Temple Bank House on the BRI site will be transformed into a research and development building with work set to start in March next year and a new lecture theatre for which sponsorship is currently being sought.

In total the capital programme of investment will top £3.3 million in 2005/2006.

Work in currently being finalised for the next phase of investment planned for the next two years and the next decade.