About MRI

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What is an MRI Scan?

Until now, patients from the Western Isles requiring an MRI scan have generally had to travel to the mainland. The introduction of a permanent MRI service at Western Isles Hospital means that a significant proportion of these scans can now be undertaken locally.

This will help to:

• reduce the need for patients and families to travel to the mainland;
• provide care closer to home;
• reduce disruption associated with travelling for appointments;
• support faster and more streamlined patient pathways; and
• strengthen diagnostic services available within the Western Isles.

Not every type of MRI examination will be available locally. Some patients may still need to travel to a mainland centre where specialist scanning, anaesthetic support or other specialist services are required. Your clinical team will advise you if this applies to you.

Patients travelling from Uists and Barra

The new MRI service has been established for patients across the Western Isles, including communities in Lewis, Harris, Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay – and we recognise that attending an MRI appointment in Stornoway may involve significant travel for patients living in these areas.

Where possible, appointment planning will take account of travel arrangements and the practical challenges associated with travelling between our islands.

Please contact the team if you have concerns about attending your appointment because of travel arrangements. The team will, where possible, be as flexible as they can in accommodating appointment times at a time that best suits patients travelling from a further distance.

What is an MRI Scan?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The MRI uses a powerful magnet and some Radiofrequency pulses to take detailed images of the area we have been asked to scan for you. The images will be sent to a Radiologist (a doctor who specialises in looking at MRI scans) who will inform your doctor of any findings.

What are the risks?

MRI doesn’t use any radiation like X-rays or CT scans, so that is not a consideration. Also, there are no known risks associated with MRI itself.

We are, however, careful about scanning pregnant patients and these requests will be considered individually.

We sometimes need to give an injection of a contrast dye. If you are given this, we will explain the risks in detail when you are in the unit. These can include an allergic reaction, although this is very rare.

Our main safety concern is around the use of such a powerful magnet, which is always switched on. Please adhere to all instructions given to you by the staff at the unit, who are trained to keep you safe.

Patients excluded from being scanned at Eileanan Siar MRI Care Centre

While it is the intention of the Radiology Department to provide an MRI service which is accessible to all patients, for reasons of safety, it has been decided that the following patients are not to be scanned at the Eileanan Siar MRI Care Centre:

• Patients with a cardiac pacemaker in situ.

Procedures to be considered in the future, but currently excluded

The following procedures may be considered in the future, but are currently excluded:

• Cardiac MRI of any kind
• Any patient (including children) who require sedation.
• Any patient requiring a general anaesthetic (GA).