Earlier today, during NHS Shetland’s board meeting, Vice Chair Natasha Cornick provided on update on the new MRI scanner, she said: “You will all know that the MRI scanner is now on site and being commissioned. NHS Shetland undertook initial scans last week with volunteer patients to check the scanner is working as anticipated and is fully operational.

"We are, however, still in the process of finalising the clinical pathway with NHS Grampian to ensure that we have systems in place to report on MRI scans undertaken in Shetland and we will also be recruiting an administrator to coordinate appointment booking. We aim to grow the service over the coming weeks once we have all the arrangements in place. We will be developing patient information as part of this process. This is another significant step towards project completion when the significant majority of those people waiting for an MRI scan can have them in Shetland.

"We will be communicating more widely about this in the weeks to come and are also planning a thank you event towards the end of the summer to mark the campaign’s success and once again thank everyone that contributed their money and time."

Further patients have since received MRI scans based on their clinical need. All of the test examinations were performed on volunteer staff members.

We would also like to take the opportunity to share some of the photos taken this morning of the scanner itself and suite. We look forward to sharing further updates with you in the coming weeks.