England cricketer opens MRI centre

Pictured from left are InHealth operations director Mike Fox-Davies, chief executive officer InHealth Philip Whitecross, England cricketer Steve Harmison, first patient to be scanned Christine Walker, lead radiographer Lisa Cox, MRI unit manager Tim Hodgson Wansbeck, InHealth regional operations manager Jenny Redman, senior radiographer Arunkumar Metharuparampil.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, that provides healthcare to over half a million people living across Tyneside and Northumberland, unveiled its new MRI Centre at the Wansbeck General Hospital.

The trust appointed InHealth to manage and operate the new centre.

A comprehensive range of examinations ranging from neurology, cardiology, musculo-skeletal to oncology are provided at the centre, and a full scanning programme will enable an additional 6,000 patients a year to benefit from the new facility.

Ashington-born Steve Harmison, bowler for the England cricket team, took time out of his tight schedule for the opening.  He said:  “The new service means shorter waiting times and also gives residents a greater choice of where to have their scan”.

A full report will be published on page 24 of the February 2009 issue of RAD Magazine.