Staff members of the imaging team at Heartlands Hospital are taking part in a charity skydive in aid of Heartlands Hospital Charity in April 2025! Our hope is to raise enough money to fund some artwork in the second MRI scanner in the treatment centre, as well as give something back to the charity for the incredible work done so far… Please read on to find out why we wish to raise as much money as possible for this amazing cause… your support is greatly appreciated!

MRI is an imaging modality used to get high quality, highly detailed images of the body. Many people describe it as a noisy and claustrophobic experience. A surprising number of adult patients already have a pre-conceived idea of what their scan will be like, purely by word of mouth and therefore, are worked up and anxious before they even arrive in the department. Many patients do not complete their scan on the first attempt, which can have a delay on their diagnosis and potential treatment.

With this in mind, let me explain why we wish to fundraise….

Imagine having this scan as child – the complete unknown. They enter the imaging department, which can be a very daunting, clinical space. It can also be very difficult to explain to a child what to expect during an MRI scan and asking them to remain still whilst they enter a large scanner, making weird and wonderful noises, can be a tall ask. Many children end up having their scans with some form of intervention such as sedation or general anaesthetic and this can be emotionally challenging for a parent/carer to watch their child go through. We wanted to reduce the need for such interventions and the hospital charity has helped this to become a reality…

At Heartlands Hospital, in the MRI department in the new treatment centre, we have created a Children’s Lounge, installing a “Kitten Scanner”. The Kitten Scanner is used as part of a paediatric coaching tool which has proved to help children go through an MRI scan, without the need for any medical interventions. It is a miniature version of the real scanner, which is used to prepare children for their scan using a lovely character called Ollie, the Elephant. She and her friends explain, over short videos, what they can expect and what they need to do whilst inside the real scanner. Ollie’s experience exposes the children to the different sounds the scanner makes, whilst allowing them to interact before entering the real scan room. The Kitten Scanner goes hand in hand with an interactive smart app, which the children and their parents/carers now have access to at home, before attending for the scan. The app provides children and their parents the familiarity, information and training required to successfully prepare for an MRI scan.

In addition to this, beautiful art work has been put up around the department, which has transformed the over-all feel as you enter. Beautiful “under the sea” murals have been placed in the Children's Lounge, as well as one of the changing rooms, reserved for children who are required to change prior to their scan. The department feels so welcoming, even for adults!

We greatly appreciate your support. Thank you!