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MRI scanner arrives at new Diagnostic Centre

23 May 2024

A photograph of the MRI scanner being hoisted out of the lorry that brought it to the site on a crane. The scanner is ring doughnut shaped - circular with a whole in the middle - and it is white wrapped in a see-through pink plastic covering. The lorry has Geis Global Logistics on the side, and has a concertina canvas style roof which is pulled back to allow the scanner to be lifted upwards. The red crane arm is attached to the blue lorry. In the foreground there is a man in a fluorescent jacket, while behind the white hopsital building is visible, along with a blue sky filled with white clouds. 

A key piece of hi-tech equipment which will help clinicians diagnose a range of conditions and illnesses has been delivered to the James Paget University Hospital this week.

The Siemens Magnetom Altea MRI scanner was installed on Monday, 20 May, in the hospital’s new Community Diagnostic Centre, which is now just weeks away from opening.

In a precision operation, the four-tonne machine was lifted by crane from the back of the lorry before being carefully lowered onto a set of wheels sitting on a metal track, and then moved to its suite in the centre.

Contractors R G Carter are now completing final internal works before handing over the building in a couple of weeks’ time, prior to the first patients using the facility in July.

The MRI scanner is just the first piece of equipment to be delivered; a CT scanner will arrive shortly along with equipment for the X-Ray room and two ultrasound rooms. 

The centre will provide a major boost to local diagnostic capacity for our patients, helping diagnose and monitor a range of conditions including cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, trauma, musculoskeletal diseases and neurology. It is one of three being built at the main acute hospital sites across Norfolk and Waveney.

 In addition, the Trust has applied to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to build a further Community Diagnostic Centre at the Cranbrook Centre at Northgate Hospital. The refurbished and extended building will provide a CT scanner, five consulting rooms and six treatment rooms as well as two echo rooms with associated ancillary accommodation.

The MRI scanner outside the white building. This is now out of the pink plastic wrapping and is on a specially laid track to transport it. Two men in fluorescent vests appear to be guiding the scanner along the track.

The white MRI unti is now inside the building in its final position in the centre. The wall behind it is open to the outside with a man in a fluorescent vest visible outside. The scanner remains on red roller equipment that was used to move it inside.