Bournemouth Open Upright MRI

Download referral form

We accept referrals from healthcare professionals who are registered with a public healthcare regulatory body. For more details on how to make a referral please read the 'how to make a referral' section below.

DOWNLOAD REFERRAL FORM

Preparing for an MRI

Prepare for your appointment in advance. Read what happens when you get here and what happens afterwards in our first visit guide. Any questions or concerns please get in touch with the MRI team on 01202 436276.

  Preparing for an Mri guide

Information for Patients

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of the inside of your body. Conventional scanners - those you’ll see in most hospitals - take these images while you lie down in a tube. You’ll hear some noises while the scanner works, but you won’t feel a thing.

MRI is a very safe procedure which millions of people undergo every year. However, certain safety checks in relation to the presence of pacemakers, medical implants in the body, metal in clothing and embedded metal splinters (for example in the eyes) are necessary because of the strong magnetic field. These need to be excluded before any scan and there is a series of checks to ensure this, starting when we receive the referral form from your health professional and begin to arrange your appointment.

Our team of trained radiographers are there to support you through your scan and one of our Consultant Radiologists will interpret your images, this written report will be sent directly to your referrer within 2 working days. If you’re preparing for your visit, this preparing for an MRI guide will give you all the information you will need.

Preparing for an MRI guide

Photos of MRI scanning positions

Information for Researchers

Access to the MRI is based on a competitive bidding system, and our Bournemouth Open Upright MRI team will review each bid and make a decision from there.

We’ll give priority to projects that have detailed imaging protocols and plans for imaging analysis, clear and tangible outcomes, a well-articulated and justified time frame (including number of scans, length of scanning time, duration of study), are feasible in regards to resource implications to the Imaging Centre and work streams, have National Research Ethical approval, and are able to cover their own costs for scanning.

Speak to the Clinical Director for Special Imaging for advice if you’re developing a protocol or grant application. They’ll be happy to help.
Contact the clinical director of special imaging

Clinical Services - Meet the Team
Bournemouth Open Upright MRI

The Bournemouth Open Upright MRI team consists of a Clinical Director, Radiographers, professional services, and a team of Consultant Radiologists.  You can find out more about our Radiologists here. 

 

Clinical Director for Special Imaging
Professor Alan Breen DC, PhD, MIPEM

Alan Breen graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1967 before setting up his own chiropractic practice. In 1986 he became Director of Research at the AECC University College, focussing on musculoskeletal research and epidemiology whilst encouraging staff to undertake doctoral studies. In 1999 Alan became Director of a new Musculoskeletal Research Institute where he continues to work.

Alan is also Professor of Musculoskeletal Research both in the Faculty of Science and Technology at Bournemouth University. As well as this, Alan holds the position of Clinical Director for Special Imaging, responsible for the Bournemouth Open Upright MRI service and Quantitative Fluoroscopy (QF).

 

Senior MRI Radiographer
Ms Debbie Horne DCR (R)

Debbie Horne qualified as a diagnostic radiographer in 1988 from The Ipswich School of Radiography (now part of the University of Suffolk) and started her career at Ipswich Hospital. In 1992 she moved to Swindon and began to specialise in cross-sectional imaging (CT and MRI scanning) and during this time also had the pleasure of working in Australia as part of a ‘job exchange’. In 1998 an opportunity arose to help set up a new MRI service in Salisbury. A change of direction came in 2002 when Debbie went to work for GE as an MRI product specialist.

In 2005 she returned to clinical practice in Salisbury working there till 2015 when she joined the team at the Bournemouth Open Upright MRI as part of the AECC University College. One of her most exciting ‘work related’ opportunities came in 2012 when she was one of the volunteers in the medical team at London 2012 providing MRI scanning for the athletes and support teams in the Olympic village.

 

Superintendent MRI Radiographer
Ms Melanie Jones BA, BSc (Hons), MSc 

Melanie Jones set up the Bournemouth Open Upright MRI service in June 2014. Previously Melanie worked at Oxford University’s Acute Vascular Imaging Centre, where she was a Senior Research Radiographer. She qualified as a Radiographer in 1996 from the University of Portsmouth and commenced MRI training in 2002. Since then, Mel has gained a BA in law, criminology and social policy, an MSc in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and has managed NHS, Private and Research MRI units.

Common questions

I believe the Open Upright MRI scanner has a great future. I was apprehensive as I have been in pain for several weeks and could not lie still on the flat... You soon put me at ease and I was delighted.