MP opens state-of-the-art MRI suite at West Suffolk Hospital

A state-of-the-art MRI suite which is helping to provide a seven-day service and improved assessments at West Suffolk Hospital has been officially opened.

The £2.1 million project saw the hospital’s 10-year-old scanner refurbished and a second machine installed to help meet increasing demand.

As a result of the work - completed last year - the hospital can now offer a seven-day service to patients. The scanners are faster and can produce image slices that are just 1mm thick - making it easier to detect cancers at an early stage.

The suite was officially opened by Bury St Edmunds MP Jo Churchill.

Claire Moore, MRI superintendent, said they can now operate until 8pm most nights which has been ‘ well received by patients who can often struggle to get time off work for their test during the day’.

She added: “We’ve also had lots of positive feedback from patients, who are receiving a faster service and find the new scanner much more comfortable. As well as helping us to manage an increase in demand, the project has also allowed us to further develop the range of advanced services we provide.

“We are now able to carry out additional cancer, abdominal, stroke and musculoskeletal imaging work, which is great news for patients as it means they no longer have to travel further afield for more specialist tests.”

Mrs Churchill said: “The project’s success is a great example of partnership working and the hard work of the staff at a West Suffolk Hospital.”