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Wirral patients to benefit from pioneering new MRI scanner

Wirral patients to benefit from pioneering new MRI scanner

First low-helium MAGNETOM Flow.Elite MRI scanner in NHS patient care will help more people get scans sooner

Patients at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) will soon benefit from faster access to MRI scans after the Trust became the first in the NHS to put a new generation of MAGNETOM Flow.Elite MRI scanner into clinical use.

The new scanner, installed at Arrowe Park Hospital, is designed to help the Trust scan more patients each day while maintaining excellent image quality. It is also more environmentally friendly than traditional MRI scanners.

Radiographers are currently completing specialist training on the scanner which is expected to start seeing patients from mid-November.

The new MRI scanner will bring a number of benefits for patients:

  • Shorter waiting times: Advanced technology helps speed up image processing, allowing the team to scan 15-20% more patients each day while maintaining high-quality images.
  • Improved care for seriously ill patients: A specialised patient table allows patients from intensive care and high dependency units to be moved to and from the scanner more safely and efficiently.
  • A more sustainable service: The scanner uses around 0.7 litres of liquid helium in a sealed magnet, reducing reliance on a scarce resource and supporting NHS environmental goals.

The scanner is also the first MAGNETOM Flow.Elite helium-light MRI scanner of its type to be used in patient care anywhere in the NHS.

Paula Quilliam, Principal MRI Radiographer at WUTH, said:

"We are incredibly proud to be the first NHS organisation to use this new scanner in everyday patient care. It will help us see more patients, reduce waiting times and continue providing high-quality diagnostic imaging for our communities. The team has worked hard to prepare for its arrival and we look forward to welcoming our first patients later this month."

Janelle Holmes, Chief Executive at WUTH, said:

"This investment demonstrates our commitment to providing the very best care for our patients. By introducing the latest technology, we can improve access to important diagnostic tests, support our staff and deliver benefits for both patients and the environment. I would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this exciting development to Wirral."

The announcement comes ahead of World Radiography Day, celebrated annually on 8 November to recognise the vital role radiographers play in diagnosing and treating patients.

WUTH will mark the occasion on 9 November with an information stand in the main foyer at Arrowe Park Hospital, where patients, visitors and staff can learn more about radiography services and careers within the profession.

ENDS