A SCANNER fund that has cut waiting times for people fearing they might have a serious illness is in crisis.

The Friends of Trowbridge Hospital scanner appeal has just reached the milestone of 100 scans but is fast running out of funds.

Initially money paid for a mobile scanner to be brought to Trowbridge Hospital for two days to cut the backlog of people waiting for scans, but since then it has paid for MRI and CT scans to be carried out at a specialist unit in Cheltenham.

Basil Green, from the friends, said: "We have done 100 scans in the last 18 months and they are done within seven to ten days rather than having to wait up to three months.

"We are running out of money particularly fast because of the number of people going through and we really don't want to lose this service. It is vital that it keeps going."

The service costs about £1,000 a month to run but is now down to its last £600 in the kitty and the trustees are urgently appealing for help.

Doctors in the town refer patients to the service and each case is put forward to a GP panel, which decides if the scan should be sanctioned, and if it is, the cost will be met by the appeal funds. Patients eligible are then able to have an MRI or CT scan in Cheltenham rather than enduring a wait of up to three months to go to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Thousands of pounds were raised by people in the town to get the service up and running and it immediately began making a big dent in the waiting list for scans.

The fundraising began in 2002 and by 2004 more than £13,000 had been raised and the service kicked off with a mobile scanner being brought to Trowbridge Hospital for a weekend.

Over those two days 40 people were able to have the scans they needed.

Patients have the scans and the results are usually with their GPs and consultants within three to four days, greatly speeding up the process of both diagnosis and treatment.

The Friends of Trowbridge Hospital is looking for support, large or small, from individuals, groups, clubs, societies and local companies to help carry on the good work.

All of the money donated to the appeal will go on providing scans. Anyone who can help can contact Mr Green on (01225) 765155 or send cheques payable to Trowbridge Scanner Appeal c/o Basil Green, 75 Victoria Road, Trowbridge, BA14 7LA.