8th February 2017

New MRI Scanner at Business Park is a First for Wales

The first upright and open MRI scanner in Wales will be open to patients from next month at Cardiff Gate International Business Park.

The machine will be located at the new European Scanning Centre (ESC), a dedicated diagnostic imaging unit opening next month (March).

The centre will provide a highly specialised MRI imaging service designed to put the patient at ease throughout diagnosis.

The Open MRI scanner (MrOpen) is the only scanner that is completely open above the patient, designed to give patients who suffer from claustrophobia a better diagnostic experience.

It also allows patients to be scanned in their ‘position of pain’, which greatly increases the diagnostic accuracy and its wide width enables larger patients to be scanned who would otherwise not fit into a conventional ‘closed bore’ scanner.

While ESC has clinics in London and Manchester, the Cardiff site will be the only scanning centre in Wales to have an Open MRI scanner, and only the sixth in the UK.

The centre will start diagnosing patients at the beginning of March, and will be operated by a team of six.

ESC is taking 2,500 sq ft space on Copse Walk, Cardiff Gate International Business Park.

Dr Paul Jenkins, CEO, European Scanning Centre said:

“We’re greatly looking forward to opening our new Welsh office. We’re excited to be able to offer the only open MRI scanner to patients in Wales and the south of England.

“The easy access to Cardiff Gate from the M4 was a contributing factor in deciding the location of the new clinic.

“All of our clinics are designed to put patients at ease from the outset. The diagnostic stage of any illness can cause the most worry, and we try to save the patient from any further anxiety.

“The MrOpen MRI scanner enables a faster diagnosis and is essential in helping those that suffer with claustrophobia.”

Tony Fletcher, managing director of Cardiff Gate International Business Park said:

“We are delighted to welcome ESC and its unique scanner to Cardiff Gate International Business Park to join the many successful local, national and international businesses already situated here.”
Rhys Knight, commercial surveyor at Fletcher Morgan, which acted on behalf of ESC, said:

“Securing such a forward-thinking and innovative business like ESC shows that Cardiff Gate International Business Park remains South Wales’ leading  Business Park. Cardiff Gate offers high quality office space, ample parking for a business’ customers and patients with close proximity to the M4.”