The Phillips 64-slice CT scanner installed at South West Healthcare's Warrnambool base hospital is 10 times more powerful than the existing machine.

It will enable more advanced procedures allowing scans to be performed much quicker. Even patients with severe pulmonary heart disease or congestive heart failure will be able to go through the tunnel examination.

Hospital chief executive John Krygger said the new equipment was more precise and could provide images that conventional X-ray examination was unable to do.

"It's a whole-of-body machine that takes images in slices," he said.

The equipment is operated by Healthcare Imaging Services in the hospital campus.

"Advanced scans not previously available are now accessible to local patients who can now enjoy the convenience of high-level imaging without the need for long distance travel to outside providers," the company said.

It said the scanner allowed visualisation of the entire coronary tree with extremely high accuracy and detail.

"Increased speed and resolution ensures that vital information can be provided to the medical team for quicker and more efficient diagnosis, planning and treatment," the company said.

"This includes the ability to detect life-threatening illnesses at an early stage, including heart and lung disease, cancer and stroke."

Installation of the scanner is expected to reduce waiting times and give quicker response to urgent requests.

Phillips Australia chief executive Harry van Dyk said his company was pleased to be able to help save lives in the region by providing the new equipment.