MRI scans

MRI scans - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This is cross-sectional imaging but without using ionising radiation. It is often used to scan limbs, heads and spines, and increasingly for abdominal and pelvic scanning and MRI angiography.

SASH benefits from 2 scanners both based at East Surrey Hospital. One is a wider body scanner, which makes the experience more pleasant for patients as well as having the ability to do a faster scan. The other is an extremity MRI scanner so patients can have their arms or legs scanned without having to put their whole body inside an MRI tunnel.

Imaging assistants are on hand to act as chaperones to patients, preparing them for the MRI and helping with aftercare.

MRI scanners operate weekdays, between 8am and 8pm, and on Saturdays, between 9am and 5pm.

Young children, and patients who can't keep still, are referred to St George's Hospital, Tooting, for an MRI scan, where they will be given an anaesthetic beforehand.