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Care Opinion

Communication during MRI scan

Posted By Dr je39

"Communication during MRI scan"

About: Royal Hallamshire Hospital / Neurology

(as the patient),

Overall this was an excellent and reasonably comfortable experience. I had a head scan with contrast. The radiographer inserted a cannula into my arm and I went into the scanner. Half way through I had the contrast injected. Everything was fine. It was explained to me about the contrast and how long the procedure would take. I had the 'inflation bulb' in my left hand in case I needed any help or felt claustrophobic.

I just wanted to feedback to the team that it would have been really helpful to know that they were going to start talking to me through a speaker somewhere in the canopy. When they did it startled me and I think I may have moved. Also I tried to reply to the information, realising later that they probably couldn't hear me. Again this may have caused my head to move. 

The radiographer said to me afterwards that there had been some movement at one point and maybe that was it...?

This could have been avoided with those little bits of information. 

It might be that other people have had this experience. I was trying really hard to keep perfectly still - I have asthma and neck and shoulder pains and I was uncomfortable but managing. I felt quite disappointed that I had moved and maybe affected the scan, through my ignorance of what to expect during the procedure. 

I guess they do so many that these things perhaps get forgotten or assumed?

As I say, not complaining, they were all great, kind, efficient and on time.

Thank you.

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Responses

Response from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 12 months ago
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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 25/04/2023 at 17:13
Published on Care Opinion on 26/04/2023 at 08:58

Thank you so much for taking the time to share feedback about your recent experience of having an MRI at our hospital. We are pleased to hear that staff were kind and your appointment was on time.

We are sorry to hear that the communication about what to expect with the process of having the MRI scan itself was not completely clear, and will share your feedback with the radiography team so that learning can be taken from your experience.

Your feedback is really helpful and greatly appreciated, thank you. Wishing you all the best with any ongoing care.

Response from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 11 months ago
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 10/05/2023 at 15:34
Published on Care Opinion at 15:34

Thank you again for sharing your feedback regarding your recent experience of having an MRI at the hospital.

Your feedback has been shared with the Radiography team who were grateful for you taking the time to share your experience and to point out this overlooked information which you were not provided with on your attendance.

Your comments will be shared with the MRI team and discussed 1:1 with the radiographers to ensure that patients are advised of this information before their scan, so that they know what to expect.

The team aim to provide patients with an appropriate level of information, but not so much that it is overwhelming. Staff should therefore provide patients with the key information which is; advising the patient to remain still throughout the scan, explaining the call buzzer and equipment being used, and providing any examination-specific information and answering any questions the patient may have.

We appreciate that the information about being spoken to while having the scan was overlooked on this occasion, and recognise that this would have been startling if unexpected, so we apologise that this information was not relayed to you appropriately beforehand. We would also like to reassure you that all staff are being reminded to ensure that they advise patients of all of the important information they need to receive before their scan to avoid this issue with communication in future.

Once again, wishing you all the best with any ongoing care.

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