Rod Stewart keeps promise and visits NHS hospital to pay for patients' lifesaving scans

With his unmistakable rasping voice, Sir Rod Stewart is one of the most iconic rock stars of all time, but that doesn't stop him from giving back to those who need it most.

Earlier this year, the 78-year-old stunned members of the British public after he made a surprise phone call to a live TV news programme to slam the "ridiculous" state of the health system.

Phoning in during a segment on Sky News about the crisis in Britain's National Health Service (NHS), the 'Forever Young' hitmaker offered to pay for people to have hospital scans, amid the rising number of people on NHS waiting lists.

And the legendary rocker has kept his promise.

Over the weekend, Stewart visited the Princess Alexandra Hospital near his home in Harlow, Essex, to pay for patients' scans.

Arriving at the hospital in a Rolls-Royce, the musician kindly funded a day's worth of scans for 20 patients who require an MRI scan, which would reduce the waiting list by about ten per cent.

Sir Rod said he would happily pay for scans elsewhere and hoped others would follow suit.

He added: "I want to prove that I’m not just mouth and pants and that’s why I’m here.

"There has to be enough money in the coffers to pay these nurses. You work so hard, salt of the earth."

What a true legend.