MRI scans are a type of diagnostic imaging that produces detailed pictures of organs and structures within the body. This helps doctors diagnose diseases and plan treatments.
Patients with medical devices that contain metal may not be able to have an MRI scan, as this can make the images unclear. In these cases, doctors can recommend other types of scans.
1. St George’s Hospital
St George’s Hospital is a teaching hospital in South London, and forms part of the wider St George’s University NHS Foundation Trust. It features a medical school and is well-known for its high-level care.
MRI scanning helps to detect disease that is not apparent on other scans, such as CT or X-ray. It can also be used to monitor treatment effectiveness over time.
MRI scans are performed under a general anaesthetic. Children need to fast before the procedure as eating increases the risk of stomach contents entering the lungs during the scan.
2. St George’s University Hospital
The hospital is also home to the UK’s only specialist health university. St George’s students are immersed in a professional healthcare environment from day one, meaning they’re able to find where their passions truly lie in medicine.
The MRI department offers high-quality MRI scans for patients from across the country. MRIs are useful for detecting problems with bones, ligaments and blood vessels. They’re particularly good at detecting abnormalities in the brain and spinal cord.
The hospital is currently offering its patients a new type of MRI called cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). This technology provides X-ray-like images without using ionising radiation.
3. King’s College Hospital
King’s College Hospital is a world-class hospital with a reputation for excellence. It is also a teaching hospital and tertiary referral center in certain specialties. It serves 700,000 people in four London boroughs and is home to a medical school.
The hospital recently completed a new 3,450sq m outpatient services building using Premier Modular. This fast-tracked project was delivered in just nine months from concept to completion.
King’s College Hospital has a number of core research facilities. These include MRI, imaging scanning, and a Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging. These research facilities allow scientists to study cancer, bacteria, and many other diseases.
4. University College Hospital
Located in the heart of London on Euston Road, University College Hospital boasts state-of-the-art facilities with cutting edge technology. It is conveniently located near Warren Street and Euston Square Tube stations as well as Euston railway station.
The hospital also offers a range of healthcare services, including accident and emergency care, hyper-acute stroke units, cancer care, critical care, dermatology, endocrinology, general surgery, general medicine, imaging, and rheumatology.
The hospital has recently invested in a number of new pieces of equipment, such as the latest GT digital mammography scanner which will help improve breast cancer detection and increase survival rates for patients. It is also home to a number of expert consultants and physicians.
5. Great Ormond Street Hospital
As the world’s most famous children’s hospital, Great Ormond Street (GOSH) attracts patients from all over the globe. It is home to the United Kingdom’s largest concentration of children’s health research. The hospital’s partnership with UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health creates an unparalleled international centre of excellence in child healthcare and research.
GOSH’s historic admission records are available online through Small and Special, a database of almost one million records that cover the years from 1852 to 1914. The project was inspired by a desire to improve access to this valuable historical data.
6. University Hospitals Birmingham
MRI scans can help doctors see problems with muscles, blood vessels and ligaments. They can also detect problems that are hard to find with X-rays.
You might need to wear a hospital gown and avoid clothes with metal zips, fasteners, buttons, underwire (bras), belts or buckles. You may need to have an injection of contrast agent. This dye shows up better on the images. It can cause side effects, but they’re usually mild and don’t last long.
During MRI Safety Week 2017, staff were encouraged to review each other’s approach to patient safety screening. The supporting checklist and form that were used remained anonymous, so staff could freely discuss the issues.
7. University Hospitals Bristol
University Hospitals Bristol is a dynamic and thriving group of hospitals in the heart of the city. It provides general diagnostic, medical and surgical services to the populations of central and south Bristol and north of North Somerset – around 350,000 people.
The trust was the first to jump from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’ between inspections and has been praised for its strong culture of patient safety. Incident reporting rates have increased and the number of open incidents has fallen.
In its busy paediatric ED, pioneering digital processes powered by System C’s CareFlow Clinical Noting have halved the time it takes to triage patients – ensuring that care is directed quickly to those who need it most.