Powys hospitals are set to receive £350,000 worth of ultrasound equipment to help clear pandemic backlogs.

The four new ultrasound machines are on their way to hospitals at Brecon, Newtown, Llandrindod and Welshpool as part of a £25m investment in new imaging equipment across NHS Wales to help speed up the diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

The move comes after figures for April showed more than half a million people were now on NHS waiting lists for planned treatment in Wales, which the government says is partly the result of cancelled imaging appointments due to the pandemic.

Last month, the government announced extra funding of £2.5m to increase capacity for patient services in Powys.

Wales Government Health Minister and Mid Wales MS Eluned Morgan said: "It’s our priority to support the recovery of the NHS and this is a first step to ensuring the health service has access to sufficient diagnostic capacity to deal with the people waiting as a result of the pandemic.

"We aren’t out of the pandemic yet. Investing in the diagnostic national capital replacement programme and upgrading the equipment available to our incredible healthcare workforce is key to diagnosing, treating and caring for people as we move forward.

"This £25m investment will replace ageing equipment as part of our effort to ensure the NHS can respond to demand with resilient services."

Elsewhere, Swansea Bay University Health Board will receive £5.5m towards a CT simulator, providing 3D treatment planning for cancer patients; a fluoroscopy room, providing state-of-the art x-ray imaging, at Morriston Hospital and a CZT technology gamma camera upgrade.

Wrexham Maelor was set to receive £3.3m for a gamma camera and interventional radiology suite while Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire was set to receive £2.1m for a replacement CT simulator.