British gymnastics legend Beth Tweddle joined staff to launch the new MRI scanner at Nuffield Health’s Grosvenor Hospital in Chester.

The Olympic Bronze medallist cut the ribbon on the new Siemens MRI scanner, which replaces the previous mobile unit as part of a £900,000 refurbishment project.

The investment in new equipment was made possible through the hospital’s partnership with Alliance Medical, Europe’s leading independent provider of medical imaging services.

The new scanner creates high-definition, three-plane images of organs, bones and soft tissues that will help clinicians to make highly accurate diagnosis while reducing the scanning time associated with examining images.

The new wide bore scanner is designed to improve patient comfort, reduce claustrophobia and accommodate a large variety of body shapes, sizes and clinical conditions. This is because the shorter bore length and wider bore diameter provides more head, leg and elbow room for patients.

In addition, the high field strength means an increased range of clinical capabilities supporting a wide range of services across the hospital.

John Pickering, hospital director at Nuffield Health, The Grosvenor Hospital, said: “This new scanner will significantly improve our diagnostic capabilities while providing a more comfortable patient experience. We are delighted that Beth was able to join us to mark this important day for the hospital.”

David Loasby, business development director at Alliance Medical, said: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Nuffield Health Chester, The Grosvenor Hospital and improve the way care is delivered for patients in the area. We were also delighted to share this special occasion with a British sporting champion.”