Rod Stewart wants to pay for more MRI scans after successful Essex event
The singer paid for a day of scans in February for his local hospital in Harlow
Last updated 24th Apr 2023
Two months on from paying for a mobile MRI scanner to help reduce waiting lists at an Essex hospital, Sir Rod Stewart's described further attempts as "banging your head against a brick wall".
The singer has said he would like to pay for further scans, but has been finding it difficult to get a response, despite his successful event at his local hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Harlow, Essex back in February.
Sir Rod paid for the day's worth of scans, and has since stated he is supporting strikes, after it all began with a phone-in to Sky News, following a scan he had himself.
He told the PA news agency: "I said when I did Sky TV that I want to try and do them all over the country. I'm not going to show up and be photographed, I just wanted to do it.
"It's like banging your head against a brick wall. I can't get any response.
"People are crying out for MRIs, I'm willing to pay for them, 30 or 40 in a few hours, and I can't get anybody to do it for me."
He added: "I want to keep it going. I don't want it to look like it was a publicity stunt.
"I didn't have an album coming out or anything ... I wanted the people to know I was doing it, but now I want it to go on and on and on and I'm not getting any response."
Sir Rod also spoke about the junior doctors' strikes, calling NHS staff "absolutely right".
"I'm well on their side. I was absolutely with them, they come before anything," he told PA.
Sir Rod, who has had six number one hits in the UK charts including Baby Jane and Maggie May, will perform this summer in the UK with support act Boy George and Culture Club.
The tour will kick off at Home Park Stadium in Plymouth on June 24 before heading to Northampton's cinch Stadium and the Badminton Estate in Bristol, which is hosting a live event for the first time.
The UK summer dates, part of Sir Rod's Global Hits Tour, will also see him revisit Seat Unique Riverside in Durham and Sewell Group Craven Park in Hull.
It will culminate in two shows at Edinburgh Castle on July 6 and 7, which is Sir Rod's first performance at the historic site for 13 years.
The summer tour comes after Sir Rod was forced to cancel a performance in Australia after he was told he had a "viral infection".