"My MRI scan in the mobile unit"

scanI recently attended a scan in the mobile MRI unit and wanted to share some feedback.

The appointment letter I received specifically stated that there was a dedicated space for patients to the MRI scanner, so with this I chose to drive to the hospital thinking it would be easy to get parked.  When I arrived, the parking spaces reserved for MRI patients were blocked by NHS vans. I had to pull over elsewhere and call the number on my letter. The staff member I spoke with was very helpful, but explained I would just have to wait until a space became free. Clearer signage and keeping these bays available for patients would make arrival less stressful.

A bigger challenge for me was the lack of toilet facilities. As someone with Crohn’s disease, urgent access to a bathroom is essential. My Crohn’s disease was the reason I was getting the scan in the first place so this medical information was not unknown to staff involved in the booking process.

When I arrived at the unit, it was only then I realised there were no bathrooms available to patients. Feeling the urgency, and unsure where the nearest bathroom would be, I drove back around to the main hospital entrance, parked my car at the very front door in the pick up and drop off spaces and ran to the public bathrooms there. Ideally I don’t like to use those spaces but at this point I was quite desperate for the toilet.

Later, when I parked up at the MRI unit, I was waiting in my car as instructed, and I started feeling anxious about the impending scan. I very quickly found myself needing the toilet urgently again. This time I decided to ask staff at the blood donor centre if I could use theirs. While they were accommodating, it was embarrassing and inconvenient. I would strongly suggest either ensuring easier access to toilets or making it clear in the appointment letter that facilities are not nearby, so patients can plan ahead. 

Other parts of the experience were positive. I had to wait briefly outside in the rain for a few minutes while the previous patient finished up and exited the unit, but staff waited with me and respected my privacy, they only discussed my medical details once we were inside. During the scan, the team were kind, reassuring, and attentive. Small touches, like offering a blanket and continually verbally checking I was okay, made me feel comfortable and well cared for.

Overall, I think the mobile MRI unit is a valuable service that helps reduce waiting times. I do appreciate that I did not have to wait too long from the point of referral to receiving my scan and this is only possible due to solutions such as the mobile unit.  

My main suggestions for improvement would be clearer parking arrangements, perhaps with signage asking others not to use the MRI space, better communication about the lack of toilets, and carefully considering which patients are best suited to use the mobile unit.