Carly from the MKFM Team was invited along to Vitalscan. Here is her review...
I should really begin with saying that this isn't quite what I expected I would be doing when I joined MKFM back in July! I've only ever had one MRI and one MRCP before and for both I was a nervous wreck as I struggle to cope with feelings of Claustrophobia. I got chatting to the team from Vitalscan at our MKFM Meet of MK last Thursday and when they heard about the medical news that I had received that week they invited me in the very next day for an MRCP.
I arrived and found Vitalscan easily in CMK next door to Morrisons and Planet Ice the free private parking spaces for customers was a bonus. The building is sleek and modern and spotlessly clean. The staff are lovely and put you at ease which was helpful for me as I could feel myself getting anxious. They have a lovely area where you can help yourself to refreshments and you are then shown to your own private consultation room which is yours throughout your appointment.
Whilst waiting Francis told me a bit more about the services that they can offer patients at Vitalscan including Phlebotomy/ Ultrasounds/ MRI/ MRCP which can all be offered as same day appointments with same day results. I can really see the benefit of how this would help patients with increasing NHS hospital waiting times.
I had the MRCP and was pleased that the team have invested in a larger than usual scanner for those that like me suffer with Claustrophobia, it also has a screen for those longer scans so as patients can watch a film. They very kindly put MKFM on so I was able to listen to Michael Blades show whilst I had the scan in between listening out for the breathing instructions. It seemed to be really quick and before I knew it Mahmoud was removing the headphones.
Dr Tamer discussed what he had seen in the scan with me. He explained that when my gall bladder was removed in 2022 it must have been in really bad shape and inflamed which is why they hadn’t removed it all. He was able to see that the remaining piece has two stones in it and should I experience any further pain that would likely be the cause. After only receiving the news that week it was really reassuring to be told the situation and understand further why it had happened. It will put me in a better situation in the future should I have any bouts of pain again. It’s amazing that we have this service in Milton Keynes especially as through MK Hospital it has taken me ten months to receive MRCP results which at Vitalscan I received immediately.
Following the appointment the images were sent to me via a patient portal and the images were also sent to MK Hospital. if you'd like to use Vitalscan yourself please take a look at their website here: https://www.vitalscan.health/
