"Waste of MRI appointment"

This story has been posted by Healthwatch Tameside on behalf of a member of the public. We have their details and will forward any comments to them. They said…

I had an appointment for a MRI scan (in January at Ashton Health Centre).

When I attended the appointment among other things,  I was asked if I had ever had metal in my eye.  I said that I had about 30 years ago and this was treated at the time in A&E.  The scanner operator said that I could not have the scan done in case there was still metal in my eye.  I said that in the last 30 years, I have had several scans including MRI scans and this has not been a problem as the metal was removed from my eye at the time.  I also gave consent for them to check my medical records in relation to scans.  This person would not undertake the MRI scan until I have a scan on my eye to make sure that it is clear of metal.  I now have to make arrangements for the eye scan and then re-arrange the MRI scan.  I do not know how long this will all take.I understand that this person was ‘acting on the safe side’, but I feel that this could have sorted out before I attended the MRI scan appointment.   It is a waste of NHS resources as someone else could have had that appointment.