Mayo General Hospital extend MRI Scanning Service

From www.castlebar.ie

General
Mayo General Hospital extend MRI Scanning Service
By Caroline McDaid
May 9, 2005, 21:30

Mayo General Hospital has doubled access to MRI Scanning by increasing the availability of their mobile facility from a fortnightly to a weekly service.
The service, operated by MRI Ireland, comprises a high tech 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner and highly experienced radiographers and is run in conjunction with Mayo General’s Consultant Radiologists.

Julie Anne Bowden, Radiographer, MRI Ireland

The mobile facility was introduced to the hospital in the autumn of last year and it has progressed to a weekly service in order to meet the growth in demand. In addition to providing a service to public patients at the hospital, referrals from other hospitals and GP Practices are facilitated.

Speaking on the mobile service, Dr. Mary Casey, Consultant Radiologist, Mayo General Hospital says:

“We are delighted to increase access to MRI scanning as it is hugely beneficial in medical terms and a valuable addition to our radiology department. Faster access means faster diagnosis and, in turn, more prompt treatment which is a crucial success factor”

The quality of the images produced by MRI scanning is extremely high and this facilitates a quicker and more accurate diagnosis. MRI scanning is used for a wide range of medical daignostics and operates without the use of high frequency electromagnetic radiation and thus, is a safer option.

Mr. Robert Nutty, Managing Director of MRI Ireland, says

“Since the inception of the facility in October last year, MRI patients of Mayo and the surrounding area have benefited by shorter waiting times and less travel times. By doubling access, we hope these benefits will be much wider felt”