About the MRI Safety programme

MRI Safety is a web-based learning resource suitable for a range of staff working in the MRI unit, including radiographers, radiologists, physicists, clinical scientists, trainees and any associated relevant staff, for their own or others’ MRI safety. It has been developed by HEE elearning for healthcare in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland and UK MRI professional bodies, to ensure that relevant staff are aware of the preventable risks and hazards associated with MRI. The resource will offer fundamental MRI safety knowledge and develop professional expertise in the following areas:

• MRI safety hazards and risk management
• MRI safety guidelines/legislation
• MRI adverse incident management and reporting

A pilot session has been developed – Managing Patients Undergoing Anaesthesia in the MRI Unit – which is aimed at staff working with anaesthetic teams and the unconscious patient. It was written by Barbara Nugent, the project Clinical Lead and an experienced MRI radiographer, in collaboration with UK MRI professional bodies and interested parties.

This session will be evaluated by a global panel of practising MRI staff, and its impact shared. Staff undertaking this session can record it in their CPD portfolios for professional accreditation and regulatory (HCPC) CPD purposes and it directly addresses the MHRA recommendation that an MR unit should maintain a list of all MR Authorised personnel together with full details of their training and certification.

More information

Growing global evidence indicates that MRI safety, performance and wellbeing are at risk from inadequate safety protocols, lack of training, poor operational systems, and physical and socio-cultural factors. The main cause of harm to patients is injury due to burns. In addition, patients, staff and visitors are being injured – and in some circumstances, killed – by ferromagnetic objects and implant disturbance.

There is evidence that the reporting of such preventable harm is grossly under-stated, with estimates of only 10% of MRI incidents ever recorded.

MRI Suites: Safety Outside the Bore >

Most clinical MRI scanners are over 30,000 times stronger than the earth’s magnetic field. A common assumption is that the main danger comes from the ‘missile effect’; where ferromagnetic objects, such as oxygen cylinders, or smaller items, such as scissors or pens, can kill or severely injure anyone in their path towards the magnet.

Seventy percent of the injuries which occur in MRI units are estimated to arise from burns, with 10% of injuries due to the missile effect and 20% collectively due to implant disturbance, quench, fire, acoustic concerns and internal heating effects.

How to access

In order to access the MRI Safety programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

Register >

To view the MRI Safety programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.

View >

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ‘OpenAthens’ portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the MRI Safety programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.