MRI arrives in Orkney!

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NHS Orkney Logo

The NHS Orkney MRI scanner is due to arrive at The Balfour tomorrow, Saturday 24 May.

Until March of this year, NHS Orkney was part of the national North of Scotland programme which saw a visiting MRI scanner on site regularly, this reduced travel and waiting times for MRI scanning, particularly in remote and rural areas. After reviewing the way the MRI service would be delivered when the regional funding finished, NHS Orkney successfully secured a bid to trial a full time scanner at The Balfour until the end of March 2026. Over the next year, there will be an ongoing evaluation of this service model.

NHS Orkney will work with Compleo to provide the service on site. This scanner is a relocatable unit, rather than the trailer which was used for the visiting service. The scanner will be at The Balfour permanently until March 2026.

Please see below timeline of what will happen once the scanner arrives:

  • Saturday 24 May – the scanner will arrive in Orkney and be connected to The Balfour power and networks
  • Tuesday 27 May – as the scanner is powered down for transport, the manufacturer, Philips, will be arriving on site to power up the scanner and perform any planned maintenance on the scanner prior to commencing scanning
  • Monday 2 June to Friday 6 June – training will begin for the team and testing of the scanner, scanning will then begin for the first patients, but initially in small numbers

The service will commence fully after the testing and training is complete. As a reminder, some patients will still need to travel to Aberdeen for scans due to the type and complexity of the scan or the support required around the scan.

Kirsten Grieve MRI Lead Radiographer said: “We are delighted to announce that an MRI scanner will soon be available in our island community on a continuous basis. This incredible opportunity will tap into our local skills and expertise, marking a significant milestone that will enhance our healthcare services here in Orkney. If all goes well and patients find it beneficial, we are hopeful this will become a permanent resource for the future.”

The team responsible for the MRI scanner will be reviewing the service and producing a report for the NHS Orkney Health Board and Scottish Government to evaluate the success of the provision of scanning at The Balfour and will therefore be seeking feedback from patients about the service and the difference it has made to patients and the community.