The Welsh Government has announced more than £12 million to replace ageing imaging systems at hospitals including Royal Gwent, Bronglais and Wrexham Maelor.

It is hoped that patients will benefit from faster and more accurate diagnoses and be treated more quickly.

£2.7 million has been awarded to Aneurin Bevan University health board to replace a SPECT-CT scanner at the Royal Gwent Hospital, which should reduce time lost to maintenance and improve clinical resilience.

Cardiff & Vale UHB will receive nearly £2 million to upgrade fluoroscopy equipment - digital imaging equipment that provides real-time images of the inside of the body during diagnosis and treatment.

With more than £628,000, Hywel Dda UHB will replace a 20-year-old bone density scanner at Bronglais Hospital.

Meanwhile, more than £6.7 million will fund nine new digital X-ray rooms across Betsi Cadwaladr, Cardiff & Vale and Swansea Bay health boards, benefiting Bryn Beryl, Dolgellau, Wrexham Maelor, Mold, Llandough, the Children's Hospital for Wales, Singleton and Neath Port Talbot hospitals.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said: "We are replacing ageing equipment with the latest technology in a bid to improve the resilience, reliability and efficiency of diagnostic services across Wales.

"This equipment – including CT scanners, X rays and high-resolution imaging of bones, organs and soft tissues – will help increase the number of scans able to take place and improve patient flow through the healthcare system.

"Improving the ergonomics of X-ray equipment will also make it easier to use for staff, with most being fully automated for positioning, so they can be more efficient and benefit patient care."