15 March 2018
The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy, is to unveil a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner which has been purchased by the League of Friends of the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH).
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has replaced its two existing MRI scanners, at RSH and at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, as part of a £1.7million investment. The fundraising efforts of the League of Friends meant that SaTH could invest in a third scanner, meaning even more patients can be seen.
The new scanner will be unveiled at a special ceremony at RSH on 22 March. Following the ceremony, members of staff and volunteers from the League of Friends will get the chance to see the new scanner and the new suite in which it will be housed.
Simon Wright, Chief Executive of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said the new scanner would bring enormous benefits to patients across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales.
Simon, who aided the fundraising effort by climbing four volcanoes in Sicily in six days, said: “We are extremely grateful to the League of Friends and all their sponsors and volunteers for providing SaTH with a new, state-of-the-art, MRI Scanner.
“The MRI appeal was launched by the League of Friends to celebrate their 50th anniversary. They have been providing support for patients since 1966. A huge £1 million has been raised and MRI was chosen as it benefits such a wide variety of our patients and their care.”
An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the:
- brain and spinal cord
- bones and joints
- breasts
- heart and blood vessels
- internal organs, such as the liver, womb or prostate gland
The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been. The new scanner will support nearly all care groups within SaTH and will improve care for existing patients as well as allowing SaTH to carry out some scans which patients have previously had to travel out of the area to receive.
Simon said: “The addition of this scanner donated by the League of Friend will take SaTH’s MRI fleet up to three machines and gives us the vital capacity we need in order to serve the every growing demand for this wonderful diagnostic facility.
“The scanner will be the flag-ship of the fleet and we will soon be undertaking our first advance MRI cardiac imaging scans. Previously, our patients would have to travel to facilities outside of the county for this diagnostic test.”
The MRI scanner will come into clinical use at the beginning of April and will be immediately running for extended days in order to boost SaTH’s Radiology Department diagnostic services.
“I know the Radiology Teams and clinicians are very impressed with the new machine’s capability and the quality of the images they generate,” said Simon.
“Patients will also benefit from a vastly improved scanning experience due to the wider and shorter bore which gives a much greater sense of space when within the scanner. They may also like the addition of a backlit sky and cloud mural on the ceiling above the scanner. On behalf of SaTH, Radiology and our patients, I would like to thank the League of Friends for continuing to support the Trust.”
Ray Smith, Chair of the League of Friends, said: “We are so grateful to the people of Shropshire and Mid Wales for the unstinting support that they have once again given us for this appeal.
“I know that everyone who has supported our drive for funds will take enormous comfort in the fact that 100% of monies raised have been used for the purchase of the scanner and that there are no administrative expenses. Our fundraising organisation is entirely staffed by very able and willing volunteers.”