THE Yeovil Express is delighted to announce today that it is launching the FAST Appeal to raise money towards the purchase of a much-needed new scanner for Yeovil District Hospital.

The FAST (Fund A Scanner Today) Appeal hopes to raise £20,000 to complete the planned £65,000 investment by the hospital's bone density unit to buy a new state-of-the-art scanner to diagnose and help treat the debilitating disease osteoporosis in patients.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.

Bone densitometry scanning, also known as DEXA scanning, can be used to assess an individual's risk of developing osteoporosis. The scanner measures bone density at particular parts of the body such as hip, spine and wrist and compare the measurements with average bone density in young adults.

But the existing scanner used by Yeovil's award-winning Somerset Osteoporosis Service is old, out-of-date and consistently breaking down which has hindered the treatment of many patients and the waiting list for scans is getting longer and longer.

The Yeovil-based unit - which was named the UK Osteoporosis Team of the Year in 1999 and 2000 - is widely regarded as one of the best in the country but is desperate for the new scanner in order to continue and improve its invaluable work in the community.

The new scanner is quicker, more sophisticated and will give the team much more detailed information to help in a patient's treatment.

A hospital spokesman said: "It would be wonderful if we could buy the new scanner as it is desperately needed. We are extremely grateful to the Yeovil Express for helping us in this new appeal."

Editor-in-Chief of the Yeovil Express, Ken Bird, said: "We are delighted to be able to help Yeovil District Hospital in this way.

"Although heart disease and cancer are very much emotive subjects, osteoporosis is a condition suffered by thousands of people across the country.

"The new scanner which the Yeovil unit needs will help them to continue with their work and make inroads into the waiting lists."

Broken bones, known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist. Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine.

A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalisation and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death.

Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences including loss of height, severe back pain and deformity.