Bristol charity raises £1.5 million to increase breast MRI capacity
A £1.5 million MRI scanner donated by Bristol-based charity BUST (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust) was officially opened in January, by Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol Peaches Golding OBE. Housed at Cossham Hospital, part of North Bristol NHS Trust, the Siemens Healthineers Magnetom Vida 3.0T MRI system will increase capacity for scanning outpatients, prioritising those with breast cancer, prostate cancer and gynaecological cancer.
Bristol Breast Care Centre at Southmead Hospital is one of the largest in the southwest, and the number of MRI scans performed each year has increased to more than 700. The new equipment will shorten the treatment pathway by reducing waiting times for a scan.
BUST was founded by patients to support the work of the cancer centre. Retired breast surgeon and BUST trustee Mr Simon Cawthorn said: “This new MRI scanner has taken more than 10 years of tireless fundraising of all kinds, from individual and corporate donations to runs, raffles and cake sales. Breast cancer patients and their families have been especially generous in enabling future patients to benefit from the best possible technology.”
The new scanner will allow north Bristol to lead on national research looking at a shortened version of the breast MRI scan, contributing to a deeper understanding of this technique.
Golding said: “As someone with personal experience of breast cancer, I’m so pleased to be able to honour BUST’s incredible fundraising efforts in purchasing this scanner and to open it officially. The NHS has looked after me incredibly well. And having a charity like BUST supporting breast cancer patients by going the extra mile really does help by ensuring we have the best possible equipment to enable earlier diagnosis and improve health outcomes.”
Picture: Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol Peaches Golding OBE, BUST chair Jenny Wookey and North Bristol NHS Trust ceo Maria Kane cut a celebration cake.
Published on page 3 of the February 2024 issue of RAD Magazine.