A £1.5m state-of-the-art endovascular (EVAR) suite, which can perform advanced surgery for potentially life threatening blood vessel aneurysms, has been unveiled at Russells Hall Hospital.

The angiography and operating theatre suite will provide vascular surgery for the entire Black Country after the borough hospital was chosen to be the specialist centre across Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton.

It was officially launched by Stourbridge MP, Margot James, who also unveiled a plaque to mark the opening.

The cutting edge facility can produce high resolution and high speed 3D images of blood vessels and is less intrusive than previous treatments available and also requires less radiation.

It also allows doctors to diagnose bleeds from ulcers, tumours and fibroids and detect small aneurysm leaks.

Paula Clark, Chief Executive of The Dudley Group, said: “The new suite is a massive help in the advanced treatment of serious vascular conditions, such as Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm which affects the main blood vessel in the abdomen.”

Margot said “I am delighted to open this new unit at Russells Hall which will benefit patients immensely in terms of the quality of the treatment they receive and also in terms of their safety, I am also delighted that our local hospital has been recognised as the preferred provider of this lifesaving surgery. The technology now available is truly impressive and will enable surgeons to use the most advanced visual images possible to provide a more comprehensive treatment.”