In magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, images are produced by placing the patient’s body in a magnetic field (generated by a large magnet) where it is bathed in radio-frequency waves.

Very precise three-dimensional images can be made of certain parts of the body whose tissues are more readily seen in an MRI (e.g. the brain or spinal cord).

How do I access the services?

The attending physician sends a test request to the MRI unit at Hull Hospital. The test request is evaluated and prioritized by the radiologist.

Imaging Department staff will contact you for an appointment.

What to expect?

• The test takes between 15 and 45 minutes.
• You’ll be lying flat on the MRI bed, which moves through the tunnel of the scanner (quite narrow, but open on each side, and ventilated).
• You’ll be offered a headset to listen to music between sequences and to muffle the loud noise generated by the scanner. The noise is generated during image acquisition sequences.
• It’s an intense, repetitive noise but has no recognized adverse effect on hearing.