It's here. After an amazing journey and installation process our second MRI scanner at HRI is now in place and almost ready for our first patients.

It replaces and is located on the same site as the previous visiting mobile MRI scanners. It brings with it many benefits for our patients. For example, it can scan a wider range of exams and now enables all patients with differing conditions to be scanned. It links directly into the main hospital through the existing MRI unit, so there is no more need to go outside into the car park as there was with the mobile van. As the unit is now permanently onsite - rather than a visiting MRI scanner version -  it means we can scan more patients and it is planned to be used seven days a week just like the other MRI scanners.

We currently perform an average of 20 MRI scans a day on each of the static scanners. A wide range of exams can be performed covering every part within the body. Our patients come from several sources, namely outpatients, inpatient referrals, GPs and direct access. There is also a third MRI scanner at CRH. Over the past few months whilst building works have been taking place at HRI the mobile MRI van was relocated to A/E car park at CRH. This will no longer be in use after the end of October.

CT and MRI service lead, Michelle Griffiths, said: "This is the first time we have designed and commissioned a complete MRI Unit to be built off site. We worked in close partnership with Lamboo in Holland who manufactured the unit and Philips Medical Systems the provider of the MRI scanner and our own Estates department to deliver the project. It was delivered to site, after docking in Hull and travelling across the M62 and craned into position on Sunday 12th September. "

Final installations and testing are well underway and the first patients are planned to be booked from Monday 17th October.