Relocatable scanner from Compleo Health meets NHS Orkney’s needs for continuous MRI provision

Following a review of scanning capacity and provision as part of the North of Scotland Programme, Compleo Health has partnered with NHS Orkney to deliver a relocatable MRI scanner. The review highlighted the need for a permanent scanner at The Balfour Hospital, which provides services to some of the most remote areas in Scotland. NHS Orkney’s allocation of funding in this area, and the delivery of a Compleo Health unit, will positively impact waiting times and reduce travel for patients.

MRI lead radiographer Kirsten Grieve said: “We are delighted to announce that an MRI scanner will soon be available in our island community on a continuous basis. This incredible opportunity will tap into our local skills and expertise, marking a significant milestone that will enhance our healthcare services here in Orkney. If all goes well and patients and it beneficial, we are hopeful this will become a permanent resource for the future.”

Compleo Health says this is significant step for the company, which has expanded its offering over the last 18 months, invested heavily in the latest scanning technology and increased the number of integrated care boards and health boards in which it operates across the UK. Compleo Health chief executive Beverley Wallace said: “We’re incredibly proud to support the delivery of this advanced MRI technology to Orkney. This solution not only brings the latest diagnostic capabilities closer to home, but it also promotes greater equity of access.”

Compleo believes that effective and coordinated partnerships like this are reshaping diagnostics in rural areas and addressing critical service gaps. “Long-term viability of such initiatives will be contingent on sustained funding and positive clinical outcomes, and cases like this may yet inform future models and approaches across the UK,” it says.

Picture: Compleo Health and NHS Orkney teams are pictured following successful delivery of the new MRI unit.

Read this report on page 10 of the August 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.