Grosvenor Interiors, a UK-based interior design company, has wrapped a new state-of-the-art scanner in the MRI department at Addenbrooke Hospital with vinyl using a nature-based forest design.
The wrapped MRI scanner is the first in the UK.
The aim is to 'bring the outside in' to encourage anxious patients to go ahead with their scans, which will not only save lives but thousands of pounds per patient for the hospital trust.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital is part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Additionally, the walls of the scanner room have also been wrapped in a forest design, showing images of sunlight bursting through a forest and completely transforming the room.
Supporters have also funded two £30,000 audio visual systems for two of the department’s three scanners
In terms of funding, the work was made possible by the generosity of donors and supporters of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT).
ACT is the official charity for Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, whose supporters raise funds to help make the hospitals even better by funding cutting-edge research, innovations and high-tech equipment, above and beyond what the NHS is able to provide.
Work has completely transformed the scanner room as well as the GE 3.0 tesla MRI scanner, which is used as a showcase scanner for GE for other hospitals to come and visit.
This scanner room was part of a bigger project to completely transform the MRIS department – with beautiful nature scenes adorning the walls and corridors of the waiting area as well as the changing rooms.
As well as the vinyl wraps, ACT supporters have also funded two £30,000 audio visual systems for two of the department’s three scanners, meaning that stressed patients arriving for a scan can now listen to music and watch videos whilst completing their scan.
Bruno Carmo, MRI Service Manager at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, said: "It has made a massive difference not just for the staff but for the patients too. Everybody who comes in to visit the department notices the environment immediately. It’s different, it’s beautiful and it’s friendly. It just fills my soul."
The aim is to 'bring the outside in' to encourage anxious patients to go ahead with their scans, which will not only save lives but thousands of pounds per patient for the hospital trust.
The state-of-the-art GE scanner, which is equipped with cutting-edge AI technology, supports the department’s world-leading research.
It is the department’s second scanner of its type, which improves diagnostic accuracy for conditions like cancer and musculoskeletal disorders.
President of the British Association of MR Radiographers (BAMRR), Cath Mills, said: "It’s great to see the amazing work at Addenbrooke’s that is helping to make their patients’ experience as positive as possible. The unique ‘one of a kind’ MRI scanner wrap is the first in the UK that we have seen at the British Association of MR Radiographers and we think it’s great!
"The MR environment can be very daunting to patients, especially paediatrics and those who suffer with severe claustrophobia so it is so important that we do everything we can to help our patients to feel relaxed.
The walls of the scanner room have also been wrapped in a forest design, showing images of sunlight bursting through a forest and completely transforming the room
"MR departments provide as much information as possible prior to appointments to help their patients to prepare, and the clinical staff on scan day offer support to the patient to help them to feel relaxed during their scan.
"In the past few years, manufacturers have made changes to scanner design which has resulted in modern scanners looking a lot less scary than they used to. It is great to see the work at Addenbrookes that has addressed another dimension in scanner design by the addition of the wrap."
