Conquest using outdated equipment

Bosses said the mammography machinery was 18 years old and desperately needed replacing.

They outlined a business plan at their meeting on Wednesday.

Graham Griffiths, director of operations (emergency) at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is an item of equipment we have been wanting to replace for some time.

"The equipment is old and is well beyond the manufacturer's recommended expiry date.

"The recommended life for this machinery is 10 years.

"If it is not replaced then X-ray image quality will reduce and diagnostic effectiveness will be compromised.

"In addition mechanical components will increasingly fail and there is no guarantee that spare parts will be immediately available."

Both the Conquest and Eastbourne's DGH use the same breast imaging facilities.

Mr Griffiths said the new machinery would give far more detailed X-rays so breast cancer and other diseases could be more easily diagnosed.

Hospital bosses agreed to replace the outdated equipment as soon as possible and said the move would cost at least 637,000.