HERE are two Ipswich lifesavers - and today you have the chance to help them save even more lives.

HERE are two Ipswich lifesavers - and today you have the chance to help them save even more lives.

Ipswich Hospital's consultant David Lewis and Dr Patrick Nixon are among the team at the hospital's accident and emergency department who are asking the community to support The Evening Star's annual appeal.

Lifesaver is an appeal to buy a cardiac ultrasound machine which helps doctors diagnose acute cardiac conditions, including heart failure, and is expected to help around 1,000 people every year.

The Star chose it as our annual appeal as we are aware of the financial strain on the hospital and it is a machine any of us could need at any time.

Now, the two medical experts can tell you the reasons why they think it is so important.

Dr Nixon said: “The new ultrasound scanner will be an invaluable asset to the A&E department.

“It will be a great benefit to patients in the rapid diagnosis of many illnesses and to training of staff.”

Mr Lewis said: “There's a machine in radiology but it's not always available when patients come to A&E in an emergency. Sometimes we need to do the scan immediately.

“But that's why it's the sort of thing the NHS won't pay for. They expect people to wait for it.”

The state-of-the-art ultrasound machine, which can also do other ultrasound scans besides those for the heart, costs £22,000.

Currently, the hospital relies on older technology in A&E.

The new machine will be on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Weblinks:

www.eveningstar.co.uk/lifesaver

www.ipswichhospital.org.uk

n To support the appeal, send a cheque made out to Lifesaver: Evening Star Christmas Appeal 2006, to 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN. You can also donate online.

Shoppers at East of England Co-operative Society stores can help by using the special dividend number 977.