King Edward VII Memorial Hospital has installed a new X-ray system, thanks to a $600,000 donation from Bacardi International Limited.

The company paid for a digital imaging system called a General Electric Definium 8000, which reduces patient exposure to radiation. The gesture was made as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.

Dr. Daniel Stovell, Director of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology at KEMH said: "With the Definium 8000, we can image faster, using a lower dose of radiation and will not need a darkroom and processor. We can print digital image direct to film by a special laser printer. This will also help prepare us to become a filmless department in the future."

He said the new equipment provides a raw image in one second and will provide a processed image within four to six seconds. With superior image quality, X-rays for patients will now be processed and completed within three minutes. In addition, the primary image can now be manipulated and reprocessed, instead of retaking the X-ray.

Venetta Symonds, deputy chief executive officer for the Bermuda Hospitals Board said: "We are grateful for this generous donation, which will provide better quality care to our patients. We appreciate the support of community partners such as Bacardi International and are pleased our patients will have access to higher quality imaging in less time."