100th patient for hi-tech scanner

David Fisher, 56, was referred by his chiropractor to YNi Ltd, the commercial arm of York University’s neuroimaging centre, after suffering a painful ankle injury.

The private service is available to people across the region, mainly with back pain or problems with knees, shoulders, ankles and hips. The scanner is twice as powerful as the average hospital machine..

Prof Gary Green, director of the centre, said: “The MRI scanner is mainly used for research purposes and we are able to offer any spare capacity for clinical use through our commercial arm.

“There are no waiting lists and we aim to perform scans within five working days of referral, with the report being dispatched within three working days.”

Radiographer Ross Devlin said: “The majority of the referrals we receive are for spinal and joint injuries. In two cases since November 2011 we have detected previously unsuspected cancers. We have also performed scans on NHS patients referred by neurologists who wished to make use of the high-powered equipment for diagnosis.”