New MRI Unit Opens at Bodmin Community Hospital, Set to Deliver 7,000 Scans Annually

In a significant boost to local healthcare, a new relocatable MRI unit has officially opened at Bodmin Community Hospital, promising to deliver around 7,000 scans each year. The state-of-the-art facility, part of the recently completed community diagnostic centre, aims to bring critical diagnostic services closer to home for residents of north and east Cornwall.

A Collaborative Effort to Improve Patient Care

The MRI unit is staffed by clinicians from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, and its launch is seen as a vital step in reducing the backlog of elective care left by the pandemic. Steve Williamson, Chief Executive of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, highlighted the unit’s potential impact, emphasising the importance of delivering care closer to home for patients.

“Receiving as much of the care they need closer to home is really important for our patients,” Steve explained. “Being able to provide a wide range of services from the community diagnostic centre here in Bodmin not only makes that possible but also helps us to reduce waiting times and relieve pressure on our main hospitals in Truro and Plymouth.”

Celebrating a Milestone in Healthcare

The official opening ceremony took place on Monday, 29 July, with Steve Williamson and Debbie Richards, Chief Executive of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, leading the event. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by NHS colleagues and local councillors, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between the two NHS trusts.

Debbie Richards underscored the importance of this new facility for the Bodmin community. “This is another really important milestone of our partnership with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust,” she said, adding that it will allow residents to access more diagnostics locally and help drive down waiting times across the county.

Enhancing Local Healthcare Services

The £2.5 million MRI unit was funded by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, further enhancing the range of health services available at Bodmin Community Hospital. Kate Shields, Chief Executive of the Integrated Care Board, expressed her delight at the new addition.

“The new MRI unit is a welcome addition to the extensive range of health and care services available at Bodmin,” Kate said, acknowledging the efforts of all teams involved in bringing the service to fruition.

Operating 363 days a year, the MRI unit has already begun serving patients, reflecting a commitment to improving access to diagnostic services in Cornwall.