A MRI scanner which was due to be installed this year in Western Isles will now be operational in 2026.
The Scottish Government awarded £2.4 million to cover costs after approving a business case from NHS Western Isles and service was expected to be up and running by now.
In July 2023, the health board said it anticipated the scanner to be in use this autumn.
But original financial estimates were “not based on an in-depth architectural assessment”
according to a health board report.
The price tag has nearly doubled to almost £4.5 million after encountering “unexpected challenges” according to an update in the spring.
The health board said there is a current indicative cost of around £3.5 million to £4 million and an .
Any price pressures are expected to be advised in an “updated cost profile” to be finalised next month.
Locating the scanner in the former Clisham and Erisort wards day room within Western Isles Hospital is the health board preferred choice.
However, “significant structural works” to the roof space due to the restrictive roof height were required it emerged. In addition, extra works were needed to ensure a sufficient power supply.
Changes in national guidance creates additional requirements regarding mechanical aspects of the project in relation to air changes.
NHS Western Isles said today it is in “ongoing communication” with the Scottish Government to manage the project timeline and ensure that funding requirements are met.
The Scottish Government says it remains “supportive of NHS Western Isles’ plan to buy a new MRI scanner and will provide the necessary capital funding to allow the purchase to move forward.”
Main challenges causing the delay have “now been resolved,” paving the way for the next stages says NHS Western Isles chief executive, Gordon Jamieson.
The project design team - led by Gauldie Wright and Partners Architects - is nearing
completion of what is known as ‘RIBA Concept Design Stage 2’ which marks a “critical
step” in the planning and design process.
He added: “The MRI service is projected to be fully operational by early summer 2026, pending the successful completion of design, construction, and installation phases.”
Alternative siting options included a modular build but that was higher in cost and presented issues on where it would be located.
Also considered was deploying a mobile unit. Again, this posed issues regarding a suitable location as well as concerns regarding a new power supply and clinical limitations to the MR service the health board intend on delivering.
Eventually, the Clisham day room was reckoned to be the best option according to a report.
The project team is working closely with specialist engineers, architects, and healthcare professionals to finalise the technical specifications and design layout of the MRI suite.
Key considerations include ensuring accessibility, aligning the installation with existing hospital infrastructure and compliance with relevant standards and guidance.
Savings from the high mainland travel costs for MRI patients will contribute to running the MRI on island.
Currently no MRI facilities are available in the Western Isles and up to 1,100 scans of Western Isles residents are being carried out at Glasgow and Inverness hospitals each year.
Neither do emergency and unscheduled admissions have access to urgent MRI locally.
Overall, it costs around £1 million pounds a year to send island patients for scans on the mainland with the bulk of the expense down to travel.
Going by 2023 figures, total running costs for the new service were to be in the region of £700,000, some £300,000 cheaper than the current arrangement.
MRI scanning, a highly specialised technique, is now a standard radiological tool for both emergency and planned care, and is the investigation of choice for many conditions that could soon be managed in the Western Isles with the introduction of this new service.
These spaces are currently used for onsite storage of equipment and alternative storage solutions are being considered now that this location has been formally approved for the new MRI suite.
MRI is increasing used when assessing head and neck cancers. It can replace the echocardiograms ultrasound scans undertaken for heart and circulatory system issues, of which around 1,000 scans are carried out annually, and has the ability to replace multiple tests with a single test.
Availability of a local MRI service will help to perform assessment of the liver and also allow breast scans.
Hopes delayed MRI scanner for Western Isles will be up and running in two years
18 December 2024
