From next week, islanders undergoing MRI scans will be the first to experience the PEH’s state-of-the-art new facility.
The opening of the new MRI suite follows a five-month series of upgrades, which has involved reusing the enormous magnet from the outgoing scanner to build a new state-of-the-art piece of kit, housed within a fully-refurbished scanning room.
During these works, MRI scans have been temporarily carried out in a rented mobile MRI scanner based in a lorry trailer parked outside the entrance to Radiology and the Emergency Department. Over the last 16 weeks, this has worked well with minimal disruption, but the service has been suspended today due to some minor technical issues. This has led to some appointments being postponed, but these will be prioritised to take place on the new scanner and will be completed within 10 days.
This replacement project, which has cost £1.3m, has seen the Committee for Health & Social Care purchase a high quality, Siemens Avanto FIT MRI scanner. It is now fully operational and ready to use, with staff completing their final training and preparations ahead of starting scans next week.
Head of radiology services Alistair Richards said it was a proud moment for the team: “The MRI scanner is a vital part of our hospital facility with constant high demand on it, whether it be emergencies or scheduled appointments. We complete 5,500 scans a year.
The old scanner had exceeded its lifespan and what we have now will be far more comfortable for patients. It is a huge step forward. We have ‘upcycled’ the old steel magnet and built a totally new scanner around this metal heart of the old scanner”.
Based in the same part of the hospital as the previous 13-year-old scanner, the project to replace it has involved a full refurbishment of the facilities.
Meanwhile, the main room housing the scanner was stripped back to a bare shell and installed with a new copper cage, which seals the entire space. Then the ceiling, walls and floor were replaced. The magnet was then slid back in and incorporated into the new scanner. Siemens have installed the latest software and new ancillary hardware such as new coils, a new bed and new control room. The finishing touches have also included new mood lighting and ceiling-mounted screens which can project nature scenes to create a reassuring therapeutic environment for people undergoing scans.
The final stages of preparing the new facility including topping up the scanner with helium and charging the magnet.
Alistair said that the temporary scanning facility in the lorry had generally worked well. But with this rented unit due to head back to the UK next week HSC has decided to suspend its use for the final 3 days of its contract.
“We would like to sincerely thank all the patients who have supported the successful use of the temporary MRI facility for the last 17 weeks and apologise for the small number who have required postponement of their original appointment”.
