Critical incident at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital as hot weather disrupts MRI services
Outpatient appointments cancelled and cooling solutions sought amid scanner failures
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident due to the failure of MRI scanners amid the current hot and humid weather.
Chief Operating Officer Chris Cobb explained that the cooling systems in the MRI scanners, both inpatient and outpatient, are not functioning, leading to the cancellation of 254 outpatient appointments to date.
Operational teams are seeking assistance from other healthcare providers while estates teams work on finding a cooling solution.
However, the resolution may not be immediate, especially while the warm weather persists.
Efforts are underway to contact all affected patients to inform them of the necessary cancellations and rebooking plans.
For patients who have not been contacted, it is advised they attend their appointments as scheduled.
Chris Cobb apologised for the inconvenience and distress caused by the incident and assured the public that staff are working tirelessly to rectify the situation.
The Trust is committed to rescheduling appointments as soon as possible once the scanners are operational again.