Introduction
Ergea, who provide a Managed Equipment Service (MES) to Musgrove Park Hospital, identified the need to upgrade an existing Siemens Aera 1.5T MRI scanner. Siemens proposed their innovative SolaFit solution, whereby the scanner is dismantled and rebuilt in situ, upgrading it to the latest standards without the need for a full replacement. Friargreen Construction was appointed to deliver the refurbishment works, managing the complex technical, logistical, and clinical requirements of the scheme.
Client Background
Ergea work in partnership with NHS Trusts to deliver diagnostic imaging services through long-term managed equipment service contracts. For Musgrove Park Hospital, ensuring the continued performance of its MRI facilities was critical to supporting its patient population and maintaining high standards of diagnostic care.
Project Scope
The works delivered by Friargreen included:
- Facilitating the in-situ rebuild of the Siemens Aera 1.5T MRI scanner into a Siemens SolaFit 1.5T system.
- Careful management of the existing scanner to avoid costly removal, transport, and storage.
- Removal and full replacement of the RF cage.
- Design and installation of a new compact air handling unit for the MRI equipment room, meeting HTM requirements with only minor derogations.
- Creation of a new cannulation and recovery area, along with dedicated patient changing rooms.
- Mechanical and electrical modifications to support the upgraded scanner.
- Replacement of the existing chiller with a high-performance chiller fitted with high-pressure discharge fans and discharge chimneys.
- Close liaison with Medivest Group to stage and reposition the scanner during RF cage replacement.
Challenges
Key challenges on this project included:
- The original plan required the scanner to be removed from site and placed in cold storage, incurring major building works, transport, and storage costs.
- The RF cage required full removal and replacement, meaning the scanner had to be moved and repositioned multiple times.
- The existing courtyard plant area created high ambient temperatures and refrigerant pressures, causing the old chiller to underperform and risk scanner shutdown.
Solutions
Friargreen brought forward practical and innovative solutions to address these issues:
- Proposed retaining the scanner on site, avoiding costly building works, transport, and cold storage.
- Engaged Medivest Group to ramp down and stage the scanner so that only the cryogen cooling system and magnet cold head remained operational.
- Medivest Group provided logistics to safely reposition the scanner during RF cage replacement.
- From ramp down to final handover, the magnet lost only 2% of helium – a remarkable achievement.
- Designed and installed a compact AHU to serve the MRI equipment room, ensuring compliance with HTM requirements while adapting to space constraints.
- Constructed new cannulation and recovery areas, along with changing rooms, to improve the clinical environment.
- Installed a new high-performance chiller with high-pressure discharge fans and discharge chimneys, resolving overheating issues and ensuring reliable operation.
Fortunately, the client engaged the services of POP Design & Projects to provide interior design to the department which really added to the overall finish and calming environment. The added benefit to patients can clearly be seen in the finished pictures
Outcome & Impact
The project was delivered successfully, achieving the following outcomes:
- Avoided unnecessary costs and risks by keeping the scanner on site for the duration of the refurbishment.
- Ensured minimal helium loss (just 2%) from ramp down to handover, preserving resources and reducing costs.
- Delivered a new compact ventilation scheme, maintaining compliance with HTM guidance.
- Created patient-friendly spaces including cannulation and recovery areas and changing facilities.
- Resolved long-standing operational issues by installing a new chiller and engineered discharge solution.
- Enabled Siemens to complete the rebuild into a new Siemens SolaFit 1.5T MRI scanner with minimal disruption to hospital operations.
Conclusion
The Musgrove Park Hospital MRI refurbishment project demonstrated Friargreen Construction’s ability to combine technical expertise, collaborative working, and innovative thinking. By avoiding unnecessary costs, resolving legacy plant issues, and creating improved clinical facilities, the project delivered significant value to both Ergea and the hospital trust, ensuring a modern, reliable, and patient-friendly imaging service.
