The new MRI and CT Scanner building – one of Weston’s most exciting transformation projects for many years – opened on time and on budget.
Weston Area Health NHS Trust now has, for the first time, its own on-site MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) facility, instead of being dependent on a visiting weekly mobile service.
This allows Trust radiographers to scan throughout the week, thereby enabling increased access for urgent patients and reducing waits for outpatients.
The new scanners – which were flown in from Germany with a team of technicians on hand to install them correctly - provide exceptional image quality.
The building houses an ultrasound room, stretcher bays and a sub-waiting room for outpatients waiting for the scanners. This room offers patients improved privacy and dignity over the previous corridor-based waiting facilities.
It connects to the main X-ray Department through a link corridor and meets all modern requirements regarding environmental sustainability. It is timber-clad with Cedar and has a planted Sedum roof.
Weston Area Health NHS Trust Chief Executive Lorene Read said: “This development is transforming the way this type of imaging and diagnostic service is delivered to Weston patients – who have always previously had to depend on a visiting mobile service.
“It has been a great privilege to be Chief Executive here at this time - overseeing such a key development in the Trust.
“Now we have opened the doors to a prestigious new facility that is enhancing our patients’ experience of imaging and improving their privacy and dignity. Technically too, it is far superior – offering top-class image quality.”
The Trust is also currently involved in a major £8.5 million project to refurbish and extend its Emergency Department (A&E) and this is due to open in May 2011.
For further information, please contact Caroline Welch on 01934 647091