You will be invited into a changing room, to undress according to the instructions of our radiographers. What clothing needs to be removed depends on which area of the body is being examined. Before the examination, remove all metal and/or magnetic objects that you have with you in the changing room (e.g., hearing aids, watches, glasses, hairpins, money/change, keys, earrings, piercings, check or credit cards, mobile ‘phones, underwire bras).

You will be called into the examination room, where our radiographer will explain the procedure. They will ensure you are lying in the correct body position required for your scan to be successful. Most examinations are carried out lying down. A coil (a signal amplifier), is placed on the body region being examined. When settled onto the MRI ‘bed’, please point out any pressure points or discomfort to the radiographer assisting you, before you are moved into the large tubular opening of the device. To obtain clear images it is very important to lie completely still; any possible discomfort should be addressed before the scan begins. The distance you are moved into the tubular opening is determined by the scan to be undertaken: The body region to be examined is moved to the center of the device.

Do note, our MRI machines are open at both ends, allowing air to pass through easily.

You will be offered a headphone or earplugs, to reduce the harmless, but possibly unpleasantly loud, knocking noise emitted by the MRI scanner. The examination consists of several sequences, each lasting approximately 3-5 minutes. Each sequence has its own knocking sound.