By Lucy Ashton
At the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, MRI scans have become less daunting, thanks to specialist equipment, funded by Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, that allows children to watch films during their scans.
One young patient who has greatly benefited from this innovation is thirteen-year-old, Max, who has been undergoing regular MRI scans to monitor his health after a brain tumour operation last year.
Max recalled his first MRI when the DVD player wasn’t yet available.
“I was worried because it’s something I’d never experienced. It was nerve-wracking,” he said.
For many children, the prospect of lying still for up to 90 minutes inside a noisy machine can be overwhelming.
The MRI safe screen linked to a DVD player in the control room has transformed this experience. By allowing children to watch their favourite films during the scan, it offers a comforting distraction – which helps the hospital deliver person-centred care.
Max explained: “If you’re familiar with a certain film, it’s nice to have that to focus on rather than just being in your own head. Without it, all you can hear is the noise of the machine, then you can start thinking about things you don’t want to.”
Max’s mum, Sarah, highlights the positive impact on her son.
“It’s such a good thing for him, having something to both look at and listen to, it’s a real comfort.”
Without the DVD player, Max said: “I would just be looking around at the machine and the walls.”
And Sarah notes that the distraction helps him stay still,
“A lot of the time he even has a nap in it because he’s so relaxed watching the film.”
For Max’s mum, the benefits extend beyond the scan itself.
“Even when we’re waiting, he’s focusing on what film to watch and we’re chatting as a family about what ones we would pick and what we’ve seen before.”
The specialised MRI safe DVD player and monitor, essential due to the powerful magnets in MRI scanners, is a crucial piece of equipment that the charity has funded.
Jess Black, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, MRI modality lead Radiographer, elaborated on its benefits: “We often get patients referred here from other hospitals, where the child hasn’t coped with an MRI scan in an adult setting. Here, they are relaxed and able to enjoy a film. It allows us to see more patients in a day and keep them calm during their scan, which is reassuring for parents too.”
For smaller children, who might otherwise require a general anaesthetic to remain still during an MRI scan, the DVD player can be a game-changer. It not only alleviates anxiety but also saves time and resources for NHSGGC by reducing the need for sedation.
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity’s funding of the DVD player and monitor has proven to be an incredible success, bringing comfort to young patients like Max, and being described as “invaluable” by the radiography team at the hospital.