THE X-ray department at Lydney Hospital has temporarily closed because of a lack of specialist staff – and to make way for improved facilities.

Fund-raisers working on the £200,000 project to install a state-of-the-art digital machine at the hospital say it will mean that people in the south Forest will have access to the best X-ray facilities of any community hospital in Gloucestershire.

Opening hours of the X-ray department at the Dilke Hospital in Cinderford are being extended and will mean radiology services being offered at weekends.

Tony Midgley, of the Friends of Lydney Hospital, said the closure of the unit “will enable the implementation of the new state-of-the-art digital X-ray facility which is being jointly funded by the Friends of Lydney Hospital and the Gloucestershire NHS Care Trust.

“The work will take about eight weeks as there will need to be some quite substantial building modifications to bring the facility up to date.

“However the end result will enable the residents of Lydney and district to enjoy the best X-ray facilities of any community hospital in the county.”

The project to raise the Friends’ contribution of £120,000 was announced at the group’s annual fete last July and has been the major fund-raising activity.

The existing X-ray equipment was paid for by the Friends 17 years ago and although thousands of people have benefitted from it, the facilities are now difficult and expensive to maintain.

Mr Midgeley added: “This initiative demonstrates the continuing support of both the local population and companies, together with the NHS trust, in keeping the hospital fully equipped for the foreseeable future.

“We hope that the people and businesses of Lydney and district will continue to support our fund-raising efforts.

“We are particularly appreciative of the hospital staff and the many volunteers who make it such a special place.”

Although the hospitals are run by the Gloucestershire Care NHS Trust, the radiographers are employed by the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

In a statement on behalf of both trusts, a spokesman said: “Due to a temporary shortage of specialist radiology staff and the need to modernise specialist equipment, we have temporarily revised service provision in the Forest of Dean.

“The X-ray service at Lydney and District will be suspended, pending recruitment of new radiographers.

“However, the service at the Dilke Memorial Hospital, Cinderford will be enhanced with an extended service provided on Saturday mornings to ensure there is no deterioration in waiting times for patients in the Forest.

“This will be the first time that patients in the Forest will benefit from radiology services at weekends.

“During this period walk-in patients at Lydney and District Hospital will be sent to receive X-ray services at Dilke Memorial Hospital.

“Patient referrals from GPs in Lydney are already being seen at Dilke Memorial Hospital and this will continue.

These arrangements, which are temporary until new staff are in place in spring 2017 and are effective from January 2017 will ensure that patients across the Forest of Dean continue to receive a high quality and consistent service.

“The revised temporary service provision at Lydney and District Hospital also provides an opportunity for essential building work to take place, to help facilitate a new X-ray machine.

“The hospital is extremely grateful to the Friends of Lydney Hospital, who have helped fund the new X-ray equipment, through generous donations given by the local community.”