Heartlands Hospital adds ‘kitten list’ workflow to calm children before MR scans

There is a new addition to the paediatric imaging pathway at Heartlands Hospital, part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The Philips Kitten Scanner, a child-friendly educational tool, is helping young patients better understand what to expect during their MRI appointments.

Through storytelling and hands-on interaction, children learn about the sounds, sensations and importance of staying still during the scan. The team at Heartlands have integrated the Kitten Scanner into a ‘kitten list’ workflow, allowing extra time for preparation and play before entering the scan room. This has led to a significant reduction in the need for sedation or general anaesthesia.

Supporting the scanner is a companion app that parents can use at home to prepare their children for the procedure. It allows children to practice staying still and hear the sounds they will encounter during the scan, helping to ease anxiety before they arrive at the hospital. Several parents have commented that their child would not have been able to complete the scan without these tools, highlighting the emotional and practical value of the programme. In the first six months of implementation, the Heartlands team reported a 23 per cent increase in image quality and a 27 per cent decrease in suboptimal imaging, meaning fewer recalls and more efficient use of scanning resources.

Picture: MRI clinical lead radiographer Faye Priddy, Philips key account manager Pete Bains, imaging site manager Claire Hughes, MRI clinical lead radiographer Lee Hewitt and MRI lead Samatar Haji.

Read this report on page 9 of the October 2025 issue of RAD Magazine