We start 2025 with some great news for our community with funding secured for MRI Scanner in Orkney
We start 2025 with some positive news for Orkney’s community following confirmation from Scottish Government that NHS Orkney has secured over half a million pounds of funding that will enable Orkney to have a mobile MRI scanner on-site at The Balfour for 12 months.
The scanner will resemble the familiar mobile unit previously seen in Orkney on a rotational basis and will continue to be stationed at the rear of The Balfour. This funding for 2025/26 ensures the continuation of the vital MRI service, providing a seamless experience for our patients and community, while avoiding unnecessary travel to other hospital sites such as Aberdeen.
This scanner will be staffed by NHS Orkney and appointments for the scanner will be issued by post to relevant patients. We hope to have the scanner up and running by the middle of 2025. In the meantime, the previously scheduled visit of the mobile MRI scanner is still set to take place in early 2025.
Dr Anna Lamont, Medical Director at NHS Orkney said: “This is fantastic news for Orkney’s patients and community. This funding allows us to continue delivering essential MRI services locally, sparing patients the disruption and stress of travelling South. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Nick Crohn, our Head of Radiology at The Balfour, for his support and skilled efforts in building the case for this funding. We are committed to maximising the value of this scanner during its time here and exploring the new opportunities it offers to enhance patient care. Over the next year, we will work to address the challenges of securing a permanent solution to ensure MRI services in Orkney remain available in the long term”.
Laura Skaife-Knight, Chief Executive at NHS Orkney, said: “We have been incredibly worried since the middle of 2024 about the potential impact of changes to service and funding provision and have consistently highlighted to our own Board, community and Scottish Government the risks to patient care and experience of an adequate service not being funded in Orkney from April of 2025. Thanks to the strong leadership of our Medical Director and team at NHS Orkney we have made a strong and compelling case after assessing all of the options that means we have secured funding that ensures we can continue to provide an on-site MRI service for a further year. During this time we will assess the options to determine the best solution for the longer-term for our patients and community. This is excellent news and a great way in which to start the new year – with positive news for our patients and community.”