Many hundreds of Western Isles patients are set to benefit from the planned installation of a MRI scanner at Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway next year.
The Scottish Government has announced approval of £2.4 million funding for the hi-
No MRI facility presently exists in the Western Isles and it costs around £1 million a year for island patients making a total of 1000 trips to mainland hospitals for scans.
When up and running, the locally based service will save £300,000 compared to the current arrangements.
MRI scanning, a highly specialised technique, it 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.
NHS Western Isles medical director, Dr Frank McAuley, hailed the “excellent news.”
He said: “The reality of a MRI scanner based at Western Isles Hospital offers huge improvements in patient pathways, including those involving cancer or neurological conditions.
“Reduced reliance on mainland resources will impact on patient travel requirements, an issue causing an increased impact on all involved. Excellent news.”
Public Health Minister, Jenni Minto, said: “An MRI scanner for the Western Isles will ensure that patients are able to receive more diagnostic tests on the islands, and can therefore avoid travelling to the mainland.
“The scanner will also help clinical teams diagnose and treat the cause of patients’ symptoms faster and get them the care and treatment they need earlier.”
In a joint statement, NHS Western Isles chair, Gillian McCannon, and chief executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “Having an MRI scanning service has been an aspiration of NHS Western Isles for many years and the fact that this funding has now been approved is wonderful news for our population.
“Introducing MRI scanning to our services will positively transform the patient experience, meaning that significant numbers of patients will no longer have to travel to the mainland and endure extended overnight stays for this important investigation.
“Having a scanner on-
“Looking to the future having this modern piece of equipment will help boost the recruitment and retention of clinical staff to the Western Isles; a vital step to ensure the sustainability of Western Isles services.”
£2.4 million funding approved for Western Isles’ first MRI scanner
26 July 2023
