The initiative, launched in October 2024, has seen 116 patients with pacemakers receive vital diagnostic imaging locally. This new service is the result of collaboration between the hospital's MRI Team, Radiology consultants, the Cardiorespiratory Team, and MRI physics experts at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
Previously, patients requiring MRI scans, which use magnets and radio waves to create detailed images of the body, often had to travel to other hospitals in the South East. This was due to historical safety concerns regarding the interaction between pacemaker metal content and MRI scanners, which could potentially affect device function and patient safety.
“"Historically it was considered unsafe for patients with pacemakers to go into an MRI scanner because it could potentially prevent the device from working properly, due to its metal content, and potentially cause harm to the patient."
However, through the teams' combined expertise, manufacturer support, and the introduction of a new MRI scanner, the service can now safely place pacemakers into an 'MRI-safe mode'. This ensures the scanner's magnetic field does not interfere with the device's function. After the scan, the device is checked and returned to its normal settings.
Angela Beswick, Chief Cardiac Physiologist, highlighted the increased demand for these scans in Medway and Swale due to a significant rise in pacemaker fittings in recent years. The new pathway offers patients reduced waiting and travel times, providing quicker access to necessary scans.
This development is seen as an excellent example of collaborative working to deliver accessible healthcare to local communities. While the majority of eligible patients can now be scanned locally, some individuals with more complex cardiac devices may still require referral to specialist centres due to the additional safety checks and specialised skills involved.
