The Northumberland Hills Hospital community is celebrating a major milestone – and a big win for care close to home.
The hospital and Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation have announced the completed installation of NHH’s new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine and supporting equipment.
“The MRI is now fully operational and patients are being accepted,” said NHH.
Completion of the project comes as demand for care continues to rise.
In the last fiscal year, NHH said its diagnostic imaging team tackled more than 6,700 MRI scans, representing a nearly five per cent jump from the year prior.
“To see the MRI now in service is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together,” said Rhonda Cunningham, CEO of the hospital foundation. “An early lead gift from Don and Jane Hunter helped us tremendously to bring what was once a vision to this new reality.
“Thank you to the Hunters and to all those who joined in the effort to bring this advanced technology to our community.”
The MRI replacement has come after almost two decades. The new machine features enhanced technology, providing clearer, more detailed images, which are essential for accurate and faster diagnoses and corresponding treatment plans, explained hospital staff.
What’s more, staff said the new tech also has the capacity to conduct scans faster, which should translate to a reduction in wait-times and increased patient comfort with shorter scan times. Additional benefits include a larger opening – which will be welcome news for patients with claustrophobia – and renovations have also created dedicated changing rooms and lockers.
“The new MRI represents a transformative advancement of our diagnostic imaging services,” said NHH CEO and President Susan Walsh. “It is a beautiful example of this team’s commitment to growth and continuous investment in new technology,” continued Walsh, while thanking NHH’s diagnostic imaging team for minimizing disruption to patient care during renovations.
“I also want to thank our community, whose generosity and enthusiasm – inspired by our outstanding NHH Foundation – supported this capital renewal project and ensured that NHH continues to be well-positioned to deliver exceptional care to our patients well into the future.”
Walsh also went on to thank procurement, project management, IT, infection prevention and control, and facilities and environmental services teams for their co-ordination and expertise in ensuring a successful and timely completion of the project.
Renovations started last August 2025 with installation of a temporary MRI trailer and the decommissioning of the original machine installed in 2007. This project was identified in the hospital’s capital equipment strategy and the foundation’s Exceptional Community, Exceptional Care campaign.
Work to install and test the new equipment started last December following the new MRI machine’s arrival.
