CANCER patients are being forced to wait or travel for routine checks after a hospital scanner was put out of action.

The ten-year-old Isotope scanner at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, is being replaced and is now being removed from the building.

That means patients have been told they must wait for the new scanner to be set up or go to other hospitals for check-ups.

One Grosmont pensioner with bone cancer was told he faced a three-month wait.

The 81-year-old was due to have a scan in March, and said: "The waste of three months was more stressful than the illness itself, and that's not good."

Marilyn Williams, radiology manager for the Gwent NHS Health Trust, said they hoped the new scanner would be up and running by next month. Ms Williams said: "New state-of- the-art technology is replacing the old scanner in the hospital, which has been there for about ten years.

"This vital piece of equipment is used by about 4,000 patients a year, and with the advanced scanner the numbers should increase."

Councillor Bob Wilcox said he has received numerous complaints that patients have had to take journeys to Merthyr Tydfil for check-ups. He said: "I know two elderly people who have had to make the journey to Merthyr and don't need the extra worry."

Monmouth AM David Davies has also raised concerns over the specialist scanning and has contacted the Gwent Health Authority.

He said: "I have been assured that the work is due to be finished in mid- August, but if there are any further delays I will take it up with Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt."

Ms Williams added: "Throughout the work, staff have continued working hard to provide minimum disruption. We used the old scanner until it had to be moved for the new one to take its place."