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"Lack of proper equipment"

About: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Little France / Xrays and scans

(as a relative),

My husband needed to go to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for an MRI scan. He has an infection on his most recent amputation. He was sent by the Vascular dept for an MRI scan. 

The staff in the department were very good and helpful.

The problem was caused when my husband needed to transfer onto the MRI scan. He has both legs amputated above the knees. 

We had no concerns about the staff, they were very polite and professional. 

The problem was caused when he needed to transfer onto the MRI machine.

The machine is a lot higher than the wheelchair. Which resulted in members of staff having to lift him from his chair onto the table. This caused considerable pain and distress. 

If a ramp or harness had been available this would have been ideal for both the patient and the nursing staff.

The nursing staff in the department were as helpful as possible. The lack of proper equipment put my husband through pain, discomfort and made him as an amputee feel  embarrassed and feel like a burden.  

Surely the hospital should have a harness or other suitable equipment to help amputees transfer. 

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Responses

Response from Carol Stewart, Radiology Manager, Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian 3 days ago
Carol Stewart
Radiology Manager, Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh,
NHS Lothian
Submitted on 17/10/2025 at 12:18
Published on Care Opinion at 12:21


Good Morning,

Thank you for taking the time to inform us of your husbands recent experience in our MRI department.

I am sorry the experience was not more positive and I have had discussion with the radiographers on the logistics of transferring onto the MRI scanner.

We have 2 MRI scanners but unfortunately the type of scan your husband was having could only be undertaken on one of the scanners which does not go as low as a wheelchair. Due to the nature of MRI we cannot allow metal objects that are not MRI safe into the scanner room due to the significant safety risk. This does mean a hoist and other such manual handling aids could not be used.

We do have an MRI safe trolley which we can use for safe transfer from a wheel chair to the trolley then from the trolley onto the scanner. I will raise this with the team and ensure this is looked at for future transfer issues.

I am pleased you felt the staff were polite and professional and I will pass this onto the team.

Kind Regards

Carol

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