MRI scanners put out of action due to heatwave

A hospital said some of its MRI scanners were "not operational" due to the current high level of heat and humidity.

Scans at Bedford South Wing Hospital are being postponed as the MRI machines cannot be safely operated, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.

A spokesperson added: "This is as a result of the older cooling systems at our aging site not being able to achieve the required temperature and humidity levels."

The trust is contacting patients affected by the delays and said it would reschedule appointments as soon as "the situation stabilises".

"Our scanners at the Bedford North Wing Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and our Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) sites are unaffected and remain fully operational," the trust said.

It apologised to everyone affected, and said any emergency MRI scans would be carried out at the CDC or L&D sites.

"If you have not been contacted then please continue to attend your appointment," the trust added.

It comes after the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident on Wednesday, saying its MRI cooling systems had been affected by the hot and humid weather.

This led to hundreds of appointments being cancelled.

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