MRI safety is stuck in the past and the consequences are critical
MRI safety is the elephant in the room, a problem too many hospitals continue to overlook, and the consequences are far too real.
Every single day, an MRI-related accident occurs in the UK. As scan volumes grow and wait lists stretch longer, the risks to both patients and staff are quietly escalating. Hospitals are doing their best within tight financial constraints, but running MRI departments with outdated equipment and inadequate safety protocols is proving to be a false economy. The cost of inaction is measured in injury, delayed care, and even death.
So what’s causing these ongoing incidents?
Most MRI-related accidents happen for predictable reasons:
- Lapses in safety protocols
- Untrained staff entering restricted zones
- Use of non-MRI-compatible equipment near the scanner
With field strengths of up to 3 Tesla, over 60,000 – 200,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field, even small metal objects can become dangerous projectiles. And while most departments use patient screening checklists, that isn’t always enough. One recent example involved a patient who unknowingly had a metal fragment embedded in their body from previous military service. It was only due to a hand-held metal detector that the risk was identified before entering the scanner, although not every facility is this thorough.
Another widespread issue is the use of conventional monitors and infusion pumps in or near the MRI suite. Critically ill patients are often transported into MRI scanners with equipment that either isn’t MRI-compatible or fails to provide continuous monitoring. Imagine undergoing an MRI scan while your vital signs are invisible to clinicians outside the room, a frightening scenario for anyone, especially if they are unstable, under sedation, or elderly.
At Probo Medical, we’ve seen the tangible impact that proper MRI safety equipment can have. As the exclusive UK distributor of IRadimed products, we’ve partnered with hospitals looking to improve their MRI safety standards without compromising on care. One of the standout solutions is the IRadimed 3880 MRI-compatible patient monitor. This device was specifically engineered for the MRI environment, with non-magnetic components, wireless functionality, and seamless patient transport capabilities.
Think of it like an airport security system, designed to catch what traditional screening might miss, but built for the high-risk conditions of an MRI suite.
Other IRadimed solutions can address the problem of transporting patients from ICU to MRI, after developing MRI-conditional infusion pumps and patient monitors that allow for continuous, real-time monitoring, even inside the MRI suite. With IRadimed’s systems, vital signs such as ECG, SpO2, non-invasive blood pressure, and capnography are all visible and actionable, without having to remove patients from the scanner or gamble with their stability.
So why don’t all hospitals adopt these solutions?
If there’s budget for a multi-million pound MRI scanner, it stands to reason there should be budget for the safety equipment to support it. Yet in many places, the procurement of compatible monitors, infusion pumps, and training is still treated as optional. That mindset is growing to be both outdated and dangerous.
We understand that budgets are tight and yes, hospitals and healthcare in the UK is under pressure. But if we’re willing to place patients inside a machine that can turn an oxygen cylinder into a deadly projectile, then ensuring safe monitoring shouldn’t be up for debate. Anything less is negligent.
Until MRI safety becomes a non-negotiable standard, MRI departments will continue to take unnecessary risks, hoping the next incident won’t happen on their watch but the reality is, is that it does happen, more often than not.
We must take patient care seriously, and it’s time for NHS trusts, private providers, and regulatory bodies to make MRI safety mandatory. Procurement teams should refuse to acquire MRI systems without budgeting for MRI-compatible monitoring. It’s better than having to purchase a new MRI system if an accident occurs six months after purchasing the original. The leaders in UK hospitals need to ensure every scan is performed with MRI-trained staff, check the surroundings of the MRI suite, and have the correct protocols in place.
If your hospital hasn’t yet upgraded to MRI-compatible solutions, the question isn’t whether you can afford to. It’s whether you can afford not to.
Let’s stop cutting corners and let’s start protecting patients.
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