A £2.1 million project to improve the MRI service for patients at West Suffolk Hospital is now complete following the installation of a second machine and refurbishment of the hospital’s existing scanner.

Taking place over the summer, a new state-of-the-art scanner was installed at the hospital to help meet increasing demand while providing staff with the highest quality images.

The hospital’s original 10-year-old machine has also been completely refurbished, in turn extending its life and improving the quality of the images it produces. The work was completed last week, with both machines now fully up and running and providing a seven-day service to patients.

Claire Moore, Magnetic Resonance Imaging superintendent at the hospital, said: “Demand for MRI scans has risen by more than 60% over the past five years, with the department now scanning more than 10,000 patients every year. Investing in this second scanner has given us more capacity to help manage this demand while ensuring we can quickly complete any urgent tests.

“It will also allow us to further develop the range of advanced services we provide, which means we will be able to carry out additional cancer, stroke and musculoskeletal imaging work.

“This is great news for our patients as it means they will no longer have to travel further afield for more specialist tests.

“The design of the scanner means it is also more comfortable for children and claustrophobic patients.

“The new technology will also see the scans completed more quickly while providing staff with the highest quality images.”