The Royal Victoria Hospital Liver Support Group hopes to buy a Fibro Scanner for the hospital.

The equipment is a new development in diagnosis which provides a pain-free procedure offering an immediate assessment of how scarred the liver is.

And in many cases it can be used as a less invasive alternative to a liver biopsy in evaluating the stage of liver fibrosis.

Last year, over 2,500 patients were admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland and diagnosed with liver disease.

Dr Neil McDougall, consultant gastroenterologist and hepatologist at the Royal, said: "Liver diseases due to viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease and primary liver cancer are all on the increase.

"The common pathway of progression for these conditions is fibrosis leading to cirrhosis. The FibroScan machine uses new technology to allow us to assess levels of fibrosis and scarring in the liver. It would be a very valuable asset in our treatment of liver diseases."

As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, the RVH Liver Support Group is holding a formal gala banquet in the Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge, Belfast on Friday April 25.

Chair of the group, Gordon Cave, is appealing for support for this event either by purchasing one or more corporate tables for the banquet, which cost £1,000 for a table of 10, or by making a financial donation.

"Our target is to raise £50,000 for the new machine - we need all the help we can get," he said.

"This is a great opportunity to be associated with the purchase of such a revolutionary piece of medical equipment."

To book a table or make a financial donation, contact Mr Cave on 9145 5520.