A new primary care health centre in Blackpool has installed an MRI scanner to make diagnostic imaging available outside hospital.

The Whitegate Health Centre, a primary care facility offering GP services, has installed a Magnetom Avanto 1.5 Tesla MRI from Siemens Healthcare.

The installation will widen the provision of medical imaging in the local community, helping to reduce the workload of Blackpool Victoria Hospital. The new MRI suite will be available five days a week.

The Health Centre will initially use the Avanto for musculoskeletal and neurological work. Use of contrast procedures has begun, and the system may soon be used for vascular and aortic screening as well.

"A very detailed clinical evaluation of different MRI systems was carried out before the Avanto was selected," said Stewart Whitley, Radiology Advisor to NHS Blackpool. "Radiologists and radiographers at Blackpool Victoria Hospital are already using Siemens equipment, so staff can easily transfer between the two sites without having to retrain on a new platform. The Avanto is a modern system that can be used on an ongoing basis for the foreseeable future and will help further enhance healthcare services within the local community."

"The Avanto's lightweight coils and low table position help create a more relaxing and comfortable scanning environment for patients," said Chris Scarisbrick, Regional Sales Manager at Siemens Healthcare. "Its rapid image acquisition and superior quality will help speed up diagnosis and further increase access to MRI services in the community."

Magnetom Avanto 1.5 Tesla MRI at Whitegate Health Centre