Media centre
Speedy scans for Somerset patients
11 April 2012
Patients in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucester (BNSSG) will no longer have to go to hospital in order to access MRI scans now that the Somerset Alliance Magnetic Resonance Scanning (MRI) Centre is accredited as a provider to NHS patients under the “Any Qualified Provider” initiative.
The accreditation means that GPs will be able to refer patients directly for scans within established commissioning pathways alternate to referring into NHS Hospitals meaning no delays in waiting to see a consultant. Patients referred in this way will be contacted directly by the Somerset Alliance to set up their appointment and the Centre guarantees that GPs will receive the results of the scan within three weeks from the referral.
As well as the usual musculoskeletal referral route, Somerset Alliance are also able to accept referrals for a wide range of head, body/abdominal and pelvic areas and high quality images can be provided for these scans. The Centre also offers free parking and refreshments.
David Loasby, Business Development Director of Alliance Medical, said:
“This is excellent news for patients and GPs in North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire as it gives patients faster access to a vital diagnostic test which will in turn speed up their treatment”.
