London Bridge Hospital, part of the HCA hospitals group, has installed the first Siemens MAGNETOM® Essenza MRI in the UK. The 1.5 tesla system will complement three other Siemens MRIs currently in use at London Bridge to provide a streamlined, coordinated imaging service.
The MAGNETOM Essenza is an efficient and reliable MRI solution. Short and lightweight, it incorporates the flexibility, accuracy and speed of Tim (total imaging matrix) technology with a powerful new innovation, the IsoCenter Matrix coil. This unique integrated coil makes patient setup faster and easier, eliminating the need for repositioning, even during entire spinal scans.
The Essenza will be used for a range of general imaging needs, enabling the hospital to offer more specialised imaging on the recently upgraded MAGNETOM Symphony system already in place. As a result of this the hospital is now able to put plans for a cardiac stress service into operation.
“The aim of the installation is to allow us to offer rapid access to MRI scanning within the group as well as provide a same-day imaging service,” said Joe Cornall, imaging services manager at London Bridge Hospital. “It was selected on the basis that it is a sound general scanner that ticked the box for weight requirements as well as featuring a short bore, which is great for our claustrophobic patients.”
“The Essenza is fabulous as an additional scanner to accompany the systems we already have in place,” said Patricia Clark, MRI superintendent at London Bridge Hospital. “It’s also very patient-friendly – most of our lumbar spine scans can now be performed feet first, which wasn’t possible before. With the new system we have also been able to shorten our waiting lists plus balance workloads more evenly across the MRIs.”
The MAGNETOM Essenza is integrated into the same centralised booking system as all other MRI systems in the group, so that London Bridge Hospital can offer rapid access to scanning.
“By installing a fourth Siemens MRI as part of the London Bridge Group, the hospital will be able to offer a faster, more effective service, scanning more patients and opening up new imaging opportunities on its existing systems,” said Malcolm Pickering, regional sales manager at Siemens Healthcare. “The MAGNETOM Essenza is the ideal high-quality, cost-effective imaging solution for this service and will maximise scanning efficiency.”
