Patients across Forth Valley are now being seen within a newly refurbished MRI suite at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. The suite contains a new state-of-the-art £1million specialist scanner, a backlit picture wall and concealed ambient lighting which changes colours to help patients relax in calmer and less clinical surroundings.

The picture wall features images of Aberdour beach and lighthouse which were taken by NHS Forth Valley’s Head of Medical Physics, Bryan Hynds who is an award winning amateur photographer.

MRI scanners are used to take images of all parts of the body including the brain, spinal cord, heart and blood vessels and internal organs such as the liver, womb, prostate gland and gall bladder. Around 160 patients from across Forth Valley require MRI scans every week.

Every year NHS Forth Valley invests millions of pounds to replace and upgrade a wide range of medical equipment. MRI scanners normally have to be replaced every 7 – 10 years and the new scanner replaces an older scanner previously based within the hospital.

Additional Information

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body. The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been.

During an MRI scan, patients lie on a flat bed that’s moved into the scanner. The scan lasts 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many images are taken.