Welsh rugby legend cuts ribbon on new £1.8m MRI scanner at Runnymede Hospital
Welsh rugby legend Dan Biggar was on hand to cut the ribbon and formally open Runnymede Hospital’s new £1.8m MRI scanner on the evening of Monday 18th May. The new scanner is the culmination of a multi-year investment programme at the 31-bed hospital run by Circle Health Group. In total, £3.3m has been spent to enhance imaging and diagnostic services at the facility in Chertsey.
Located near the historic town of Chertsey, on the grounds of Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Hospital, the hospital specialises in cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynaecology, orthopaedic surgery and urology. It supports patients choosing to self-fund, those with private medical insurance, and patients referred through the NHS.
Dan Biggar visited the hospital in his capacity as Circle Health Group’s Executive Coach and Leadership Ambassador, a role that sees him share his expertise and perspective from a career playing at the highest level of ruby union.
The Siemens Magnetom Sola, represents the latest in imaging and diagnostic technology. Incorporating AI-based workflow solutions, the radiographer is given a much higher quality image, whilst also having the ability to automate and streamline routine tasks. This improves operational efficiency, with staff at the hospital free to spend more time working directly with the patients in their care.
Siemens have also incorporated specialist biological variability software into the scanner’s design, meaning that during the patient’s scan, the MRI will automatically adapt its imaging capability to the patient and their body. Demand for diagnostic imaging is at an all-time high, with unnecessary delays impacting the overall waiting times for patients across Surrey. Hailed as a game changer for Runnymede Hospital, forecasts by the hospital suggest that in the first year alone, the new scanner will be able to support an additional 4,500 patients.
Following the ribbon cutting, Dan Biggar was joined by David Cooper (Chief People Officer), Peter James (Chief Medical Officer) and Owen James (Chief Operating Officer) from Circle Health Group, as they were given a tour of the imaging department by Clinical Services Manager, Barbara Leahy.
Dan Biggar, Executive Coach and Leadership Ambassador for Circle Health Group, said: “It's a privilege to join colleagues at Runnymede Hospital for the opening of their new MRI scanner. Throughout my playing career, I saw first-hand the difference access to high-quality imaging can make to player’s recovery. The new scanner is going to make an enormous difference to the hospital, allowing us to support over 4,000 more patients alone in just the first year.”
Alex Woods, Executive Director of Runnymede Hospital, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Dan Biggar to the hospital today to cut the ribbon and formerly open our new MRI scanner. Equipping our people with the latest technology empowers them to make a real difference to lives of the patients they care for every day. I cannot thank Barbara and the team enough for their hard work and commitment to get this project over the line. We look forward to supporting more patients than ever before to access high-quality imaging services at our hospital.”