Hundreds of hospital appointments have been cancelled after MRI scanners failed during the heatwave at Norfolk’s largest hospital. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident on Wednesday after hot and humid weather affected the cooling systems needed to keep its MRI scanners operating. The Trust said at least 362 outpatient appointments were cancelled because of the disruption.
NNUH Chief Operating Officer Chris Cobb said: “We have worked tirelessly in the last 24 hours to bring some of the scanners back online. We have now received a mobile unit and have working scanners across the Trust including the Community Diagnostic Centre, which we are prioritising for inpatients and patients on suspected cancer two week waiting lists.
“We are working to reappoint all previously 362 cancelled outpatients these will be prioritised in order of urgency. Our Emergency Department and those requiring urgent care are not affected.
“We are working towards contacting all affected patients and we would like to apologise to everyone affected by this incident. We recognise the distress this has caused and will endeavour to get everyone rebooked as soon as possible.”