Shetland MRI Scanner Appeal

08/10/2024

On Monday 7 October the Shetland Health Board Endowment Fund welcomed community, local businesses and colleagues to a small celebration event at the Gilbert Bain Hospital to mark the incredible fundraising achievement for the MRI scanner and the development of the Helyer MRI Suite for NHS Shetland.

There are so many people we would like to thank, but we couldn’t possibly invite everyone to the event. We hope all of our fundraisers and volunteers understand the amazing achievement of the Shetland MRI SCAN appeal and how their efforts are already benefitting many and will do for many generations to come.

👉Please see a short reflection video that was shared at the event: https://youtu.be/5oWG-Kqe5x8
👉Our press release with further information:
https://www.nhsshetland.scot/news/article/92/mri-scanner-appeal-celebration-event
👉And an update to the NHS Shetland website: Medical Imaging – Helyer MRI Suite:
https://www.nhsshetland.scot/services/medical-imaging/2

25/06/2024

Earlier today, during NHS Shetland’s board meeting, Vice Chair Natasha Cornick provided an update on the new MRI scanner, she said: “You will all know that the MRI scanner is now on site and being commissioned. NHS Shetland undertook initial scans last week with volunteer patients to check the scanner is working as anticipated and is fully operational.

"We are, however, still in the process of finalising the clinical pathway with NHS Grampian to ensure that we have systems in place to report on MRI scans undertaken in Shetland and we will also be recruiting an administrator to coordinate appointment booking. We aim to grow the service over the coming weeks once we have all the arrangements in place. We will be developing patient information as part of this process. This is another significant step towards project completion when the significant majority of those people waiting for an MRI scan can have them in Shetland.

"We will be communicating more widely about this in the weeks to come and are also planning a thank you event towards the end of the summer to mark the campaign’s success and once again thank everyone that contributed their money and time."

Further patients have since received MRI scans based on their clinical need. All of the test examinations were performed on volunteer staff members.

We would also like to take the opportunity to share some of the photos taken this morning of the scanner itself and suite. We look forward to sharing further updates with you in the coming weeks.

08/05/2024

Update: We are delighted to announce that this afternoon the MRI scanner was crane operated into position. Thank you for your patience and support with the restrictions to the Gilbert Bain Hospital car parking area. The full parking area will be back open tomorrow, Thurs 9 May, from 8.00 am.
Many thanks.

06/05/2024

Further update - Very pleased to share that the MRI scanner has arrived at the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Due to weather, installation of the MRI scanner will now take place on Wednesday 8 May. This will mean a section of the car park will remain closed for an additional day to allow this to be done.
Apologies for any inconvenience. Thank you.

03/05/2024

Advance notice for all patients, visitors and staff to the Gilbert Bain Hospital site:

We are pleased to share that the new MRI scanner is due to be delivered to the Gilbert Bain Hospital site on Monday 6 May.

However, in order to allow these works to be carried out safely, we are closing the west end of the car park from Sunday evening, 5 May, until the lifting works are completed on Tuesday 7 May.

Emergency access for ambulances will be maintained throughout.
There may be some minor delays while vehicles safely enter and exit the car park via Cairnfield Road. Public parking is available on South Lochside and at Gilbertson Park. If you are parking on the streets close to the hospital, we kindly ask you not to block any accesses or park in restricted areas.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you.

28/02/2024

Following a successful fundraising campaign, generous donations, and support from the Scottish Government, patients could have MRI scans by early summer in Shetland. Staff pictured earlier today after the modular sections were installed. Read the full press release here - https://www.nhsshetland.scot/news/article/70/permanent-mri-scanner-on-track-to-scan-first-patients-by-early-summer

27/02/2024

The crane is due to lift the modules into place tomorrow, Wednesday 28 February, subject to the weather. Such great news that the building work is underway.

The modular sections that will form the new MRI building are due to be lifted into position using a large crane starting from tomorrow, Wednesday 28 February. The work will continue throughout the day, subject to the weather conditions.

In order to allow these works to be safely carried out, we have closed the west end of the car park at the Gilbert Bain Hospital and it will remain closed until the lifting works are completed.

Three of the six modules have been delivered today, Tuesday 27 February, with the remaining modules due to be delivered tomorrow. During the delivery, there may be some minor delays to vehicles entering and exiting the car park and travelling down Cairnfield Road. Emergency access for ambulances will be maintained throughout.

SIC parking restrictions will also be in place on the southern end of Cairnfield Road to allow safe movement of trucks up and down the road and access to the site.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause during this time.

Please be advised that the mobile MRI scanner is also visiting Shetland this week. Due to the delivery as outlined above, the visiting scanner is located in the car park at Clickimin Leisure Complex.

With support from the Scottish Government, NHS Shetland, along with other health boards in the North of Scotland, continues to benefit from the mobile scanner visiting on a rotational basis.