Rod Stewart pays for mobile unit to clear 10pc of hospital scan waiting list

Sir Rod Stewart has reduced a hospital’s waiting list for scans by 10 per cent after covering the cost of a mobile unit for a day.

The singer-songwriter called a live phone-in segment on Sky News last month and offered to pay for scans for people waiting for NHS care, having just returned from having a private test himself.

Sir Rod revealed how he was late for his Harley Street appointment, but the private doctors told him: “Don't worry, there's hardly anybody in here today.”

Feeling this was a “terrible injustice”, he committed during the phone-in to paying for scans to speed up NHS patients' diagnosis and treatment.

On Friday, the 78-year-old kept his promise and covered the cost of running a mobile scanning truck outside the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, for a day.

The singer arrived at his local hospital in a white Rolls-Royce, wearing a cream roll-neck jumper, knee-length coat and black trousers.

“I’m here not to talk about politics, please, because otherwise it overshadows what we're trying to do,” he said.

Sir Rod explained that if the day was a “big success”, he would commit to paying for further scanning units in Belfast, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.

He said he hopes “other people follow me”, adding: “Because I want to prove I'm not all mouth and trousers and that’s why I'm here, to prove that I followed through with it, OK folks.”

Stephanie Lawton, chief operating officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, said Sir Rod had helped to reduce its waiting list by around 10 per cent, or around 20 patients.

More than 1.5 million people were waiting for a diagnostic test in England as of December, according to NHS figures. Of those, 481,924 were waiting longer than six weeks.

“Rod’s a local resident, we're his local hospital, we're really delighted to be working with him and his team for the benefit of patients and doing everything we can to reduce the waiting lists,” said Ms Lawton.

“It would be fantastic if he would continue to work with us.

“We've got a charity, he would be a massive supporter for the organisation. We would be delighted if he wanted to continue the links.”

Asked about the current NHS strike action, Sir Rod said: “There must be enough money in the coffers to pay up for these nurses - only two years ago we were clapping and now...

“Bless them, they work so hard, salt of the earth.”

The Royal College of Nursing announced it will suspend strikes planned for next week whilst it holds talks with the Government in a dispute over pay.

Meanwhile, the British Medical Association announced a three-day walkout of junior doctors will begin on March 13.

Sir Rod added: “We've got to sort this out, really. We're in dire straits.”

Despite claiming he did not want to talk politics, he went on to discuss the Ukraine war.

“If I am going to get political, I think we should send the Ukrainians F-16s,” he said.

“It’s up to you, Prime Minister. I've been supporting them for years, Ukrainians.

“On stage, I have the flag and I wear a blue and yellow suit and do a song and dedicate it to them.

“I feel very strongly about it. If the Ukrainians lose, it’s the end of civilisation as we know it, it’s all over.”