MRI scanners working at Norfolk trust due to heat

Hundreds of patients have had hospital appointments cancelled after MRI scanners stopped working during the hot weather.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident, saying the cooling systems that keep its scanners running had been affected by the heat and humidity.

It said it currently has "no working MRI scanners" across its Norwich sites, including those at the main hospital and its community diagnostic centre.

At least 254 outpatient appointments have already been cancelled.

The trust said it is contacting affected patients directly and will rearrange appointments "as soon as our scanners are functioning once more".

Magnetic resonance imaging - or MRI - scanners are used to produce detailed images of the inside of the body, particularly soft tissues. They are often used to diagnose conditions affecting the brain, spine and joints.

The units generate a significant amount of heat when in use, so they rely on cooling systems to keep them within safe operating temperatures.

The trust said the situation may not be resolved quickly, warning that the problem could continue until the temperature reduced.

The hospital's chief operating officer, Chris Cobb, said: "The operational teams are reaching out to other healthcare providers for help, and our estates teams are working towards a cooling resolution; however, this situation may not be resolvable in the short term, particularly while the hot weather lasts.

"We would like to apologise to everyone affected by this incident."

Cobb said staff were working "tirelessly to find a resolution".

If patients have not been contacted, they have been advised to attend appointments as normal.

The disruption comes as other hospitals reported similar problems during the heatwave.

Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth also declared a critical incident after several of its chiller units failed, leading to increased temperatures across parts of the hospital and affecting services including scanning and IT.

The incidents underline the pressure extreme heat can place on hospital infrastructure, with cooling system failures at both sites linked to the high temperatures.

Some experts have warned that many NHS buildings are not well-adapted to cope with prolonged heat.

A report published in 2025 by the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change found that 90% of hospital buildings were vulnerable to overheating.

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