Radiographer-led cardiac MRI service launches at Queen’s Hospital Burton

AMDS partnership adds dedicated cardiac MRI capacity at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton to help reduce waiting lists, run as an extension of the trust’s own service

AMDS (Advanced Managed Diagnostic Services) has launched a radiographer-led cardiac MRI service at Queen’s Hospital Burton for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), following a competitive tender.

The service began on October 19, 2026. It runs seven days a week, 08:00–20:00, on a 1.5 tesla mobile MRI scanner, adding dedicated cardiac MRI capacity to help the trust bring down waiting times for cardiac investigations, which remain under pressure across the NHS.

Radiographer-led, built for cardiac

Cardiac MRI is one of the most demanding examinations in imaging. Image quality depends on careful patient preparation, breath-hold coaching, heart-rhythm management and protocol optimisation. At Queen’s Hospital, experienced cardiac radiographers lead this work. That keeps lists running efficiently and reduces the need for repeat scans.

An extension of the hospital’s own service

The service is designed to work as part of the trust’s imaging department, not as a separate add-on. AMDS staff work with UHDB managers every day to plan lists, align pathways and agree priorities. For patients and referrers, it is simply the hospital’s cardiac MRI service.

AMDS provides the scanner, clinical team, consumables and, where required, reporting, all under its own clinical governance. This model lets trusts stand up new capacity at short notice without having to source equipment or recruit specialist staff themselves.

Adel Sonnokrot, commercial director at AMDS, said: “Cardiac imaging waiting lists are a real challenge for NHS trusts, and many don’t have the scanner time or specialist staff to tackle them quickly. Our approach is partnership. Our team and equipment work as part of the hospital’s own capacity, and we work hand in hand with the trust’s managers to keep the service safe, effective and responsive. We want radiology managers to know there is a ready-made option when they plan how to tackle their cardiac backlog.”

NHS radiology and cardiology service managers who would like to discuss cardiac MRI or other managed imaging capacity can contact AMDS at info@amdiagnostic.co.uk.

Picture: A radiographer reviews cardiac MRI cine images (four-chamber, two-chamber, three-chamber and LVOT views) at the new AMDS service at Queen’s Hospital Burton.

This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views and opinions of RAD Magazine.