A new X-ray machine has been installed at Colchester General Hospital following a £151,000 investment.

The two-month project to remove the former machine, which was 14-years-old, also included upgrading the power supply and lighting, and putting in a new floor.

The new machine is available 24/7 seven days a week.

Paul Hudson, radiology service manager, said: “It produces higher quality images and uses less radiation than the equipment it has replaced. The unit has the latest digital technology combined with features that make it easier to operate.

“X-ray images appear instantly on a computer screen whereas with the older technology it took about two minutes before an image could be viewed. It’s much more efficient now that we can see the image instantly.”

In total the hospital trust takes about 160,000 x-rays each year.