For a child, a hospital scan can feel like a very big thing. For their family, so can the journey to get there.
Now, children and young people in North Manchester can have more specialist MRI scans closer to home, thanks to a new scanner at North Manchester General Hospital.
After almost five months of refurbishment and preparation work, the new scanner is up and running, and our teams are ready to welcome patients.
Using the latest MRI technology, the scanner will allow the team to offer a wider range of examinations in North Manchester, including specialist paediatric scans, as well as advanced cardiac and breast imaging.
The scanner is quicker than before while still producing high-quality images that help clinical teams make confident decisions about care.
Shorter scan times can make a real difference for children and young people, and for anyone who finds it hard to keep still or spend a long time inside an MRI scanner. For some patients, minutes matter.
The scanner will also provide prostate and breast scans, which play a vital role in helping teams diagnose and plan care for some of the conditions that matter most to our patients. Having these scans available locally means fewer journeys at what can already be a worrying time, and clearer answers closer to home for people across North Manchester.
The new scanner is also kinder to the environment. Conventional MRI scanners can require around 1,700 litres of helium. This one uses just 0.7 litres.
That means less reliance on a scarce and expensive resource, no costly helium refills, and a real step forward for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to more sustainable healthcare.
Above all, it means more families across North Manchester can get specialist imaging closer to home.
Gareth Adams, Chief Executive, Clinical and Scientific Services said: “This is about much more than bringing new technology to North Manchester. It gives us the opportunity to provide more specialist scans for children and young people locally, while improving the experience for our patients and using technology that is better for the environment.”
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