Publish date: 26 November 2025
Tameside Hospital’s new, £1.5 million MRI scanner suite opened this week after a 16-week refurbishment.
The new and improved scanning suite offers new accessories to make patients feel more comfortable, including an entertainment system which allows staff to project images and films on the scanner and via an in-room TV.
The upgrades are designed to reduce anxiety and claustrophobia, while creating a more inclusive environment for children and patients with specific needs.
The MRI scanner itself (model: GE Signa Artist) has also had an uplift, ensuring up-to-date software and state-of-the-art imaging capabilities.
Between 140 to 160 patients can use the scanner every week, including inpatients, outpatients, and those coming from the emergency department.
The new scanning suite now also allows the hospital to scan patients who have been sedated, which was not possible previously.
MRI scanners take detailed pictures inside the body to help diagnose conditions, plan treatment and check how well treatment is working. They are used in a broad range of conditions, including cancer or neurological conditions like epilepsy.
Matthew Kilheeney, Radiology Manager at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We are proud that Tameside Hospital is one of the first in the country to become home to an inclusive, child-friendly MRI scanning suite like this.
“It will be a real game-changer, especially for our young patients and those with additional needs or anxieties.
“Patient experience has remained firmly at the heart of the refurbishment process throughout, and the upgrades will allow us to carry out essential medical tests in a calming and comfortable environment, resulting in a better patient experience all round.”
