Hospital first to use Disney-themed MRI scans

A hospital in Halifax has become the first in the NHS to introduce Disney-themed MRI scanners to help children to get through their scans.

Calderdale Royal Hospital has introduced the technology developed by Philips, which uses famous characters with lighting and sound to help make scans less frightening for young patients.

The roll-out follows research from six hospitals across Europe which found Disney-themed MRI environments reduced paediatric patient stress levels by 43% and pauses during scans by 63%.

Calderdale Hospital radiographer Alison Lord said: "I definitely think the experience... really helps create a calm and relaxed atmosphere, and it really helps us get great outcomes."

She said: "We're getting really good results without needing other interventions such as general anaesthetic.

"Our general anaesthetic rate has come right down. When I'm speaking to parents before the scan, they really want to try this."

MRI scans typically require patients to lie still for up to 40 minutes in a noisy, confined space.

Data from paediatric healthcare company Little Journey suggest about one third of the 180,000 children who undergo MRI scans each year in the UK require a general anaesthetic due to a struggle to stay calm.

Atul Gupta, Chief Medical Officer (Diagnosis and Treatment) at Philips, said: "By bringing Disney stories into the MRI environment, we are helping create a setting where children can feel more at ease and remain still during scans.

"Reducing stress can improve the experience for young patients and their families, while helping care teams deliver efficient, high-quality imaging so they can care for more children each day, supporting better care for more people."

Children and families can choose characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Marvel superheroes, favourites from Star Wars and Disney Princesses.

Lauren, mother of seven-year-old Esme, said the immersive experience had helped to relax them both when her daughter had to have an MRI scan.

""I was sat next to her on the chair, but she didn't really need me there because she had that distraction," she said.

"I could tell she was relaxed because she was focused on it. If she hadn't had that, I think she might have started moving, getting restless or bored."

When asked what she would say to other children who were worried about having a scan, Esme said: "It's OK because you get to watch Disney."

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