New MRI scanners installed at Basingstoke Hospital

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has opened a refurbished and expanded £6 million scanning centre at Basingstoke North Hampshire Hospital, with support from GE Healthcare.

The centre now houses two new Siemens MRI scanners, replacing a single old scanner, significantly increasing the MRI capacity in the hospital as part of a larger 10-year radiology managed service with an overall investment of £42 million by the trust.

Additionally, with support from the lung cancer screening programme, a new Canon CT scanner has been installed, which will support both the screening programme and Hampshire Hospitals’ patients. It is estimated that these will scan more than 850 MRI patients and 450 CT patients a month.

One of the new MRI scanners(Image: HHFT)

Clinical director of radiology, Dr Andrew Thrower, said: “We are thrilled to be opening these new scanners which have the latest technology, providing examinations produced on state-of-the-art equipment which facilitates accurate diagnosis, as well as incorporating many features which assist my radiographic colleagues who perform the scans.

“They also provide significant new diagnostic capacity for our patients who will benefit from a new, purpose built, environment and the knowledge that they are receiving optimal imaging studies to support diagnosis.”

The scanners have been installed as part of an ongoing imaging equipment replacement programme. This programme involves replacing radiology equipment across all hospital sites - Basingstoke, Winchester, Andover and Alton.

As well as replacing old machines, which were often out of service due to maintenance issues, the introduction of modern and reliable equipment will enable Hampshire Hospitals to tackle waiting times more effectively.

An additional benefit of having up-to-date and technologically advanced equipment is in supporting staff to develop their skills, aiding recruitment and retention of a highly skilled workforce.