A NEW bladder scanner worth £6,000 has been presented to staff at Southmead Hospital.

The hospital’s A&E team were presented the new machine, which enables staff to closely monitor and assess patients with cardiac failure to see if they have urine retention, by the Bristol Area Cardiac Support Group.

Previously, as a precaution, if staff were concerned patients would be catheterised which is an invasive, and sometimes, painful procedure.

Juliette Hughes, matron at Southmead Hospital, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Bristol Area Cardiac Support Group.

“When we were at Frenchay they presented us with our first bladder scanner and now we have two, which will be beneficial to our patients.”

Bristol Area Cardiac Support Group was formerly known as the Frenchay Hospital Cardiac Support Group but changed its name when services moved to Southmead last year.