Digital patient information hub

An easy read guide to having an MRI scan

Illustration of a person laying on an MRI scanner with radiographer standing at the side

Easy Read

This booklet uses easy words and pictures.

You might want to ask someone to help you read it.

Clothes

Please wear baggy comfortable clothes

Look inside your body

An MRI scan takes pictures of the inside of your body.

Follow instructions

You might be asked to follow some instructions before your scan

The instructions can change depending on what part of your body is being scanned.

Write down

Ask your nurse or doctor to tell you what you need to do before your scan.

They can write this down for you.

Reception

When you arrive at the Radiology department, the receptionist will ask you for your name.

Waiting area

You will be asked to sit in the waiting area until someone is ready to see you.

The waiting room may be busy.

Wearing a gown

You may be asked to put on a hospital gown.

Changing room

You will be taken to a changing room.

Get changed

If you need help getting changed, please ask.

Take jewellery off

You will need to take off your jewellery.

Radiographer

The x-ray staff are called Radiographers.  

The radiographer will take you into the room for your scan.

The MRI scanner

The MRI scanner looks like a box with a big with a hole in it. It has a special bed for you to lie on. 

Does it hurt?

Having an MRI scan does not hurt.

illustration of pacemaker on mans heart and x-ray showing metal rod used to repair broken leg

Pacemaker or metal in your body

Let staff know if you have a cardiac pacemaker or any metal work inside your body.

Tell someone

You will be on your own in the scanning room.  

Please tell staff if you need someone with you at all times.

Lay still

You need to lay still during the scan.

Bed moves

The bed will move and you will pass through the scanner.

Noisy

The MRI scanner is noisy.

man wearing headphones

Music

You can listen to music.

Talk to staff

Tell the staff if you are worried, or have questions.

Get changed

Once the CT is finished you will go back to the changing room where you can change back into your own clothes.

Please ask if you need any help.

Put jewellery on

You can put your jewellery back on.

Go home

You can now go home. 

Your results

You will be asked to come back to the hospital, or go to your GP surgery, for the results.

Contact details

Queries about appointments call the booking office 01274 365499.

Text phone or text relay service icon

People with hearing and speech difficulties

You can contact us using the Relay UK app.  Textphone users will need to dial 18001 before the number to be contacted.

easy on the eye logo

Some of the images in this information resource have been taken from the 'easy on the i' image bank. Copyright ©LYPFFT. The remaining images were created by Medical Illustration ©BTHFT.

Accessible Information

If you need this information in another format or language and are in the hospital, please ask a member of staff. If you are accessing this leaflet online or on your phone you can see our Google Translate automated guidance on the Digital Patient Information Hub home screen.

Smoking

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a smoke-free organisation. You are not permitted to smoke or in use e-cigarettes in any of the hospital buildings or grounds.

Published by
, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ.

Date of publication: Jun 2025
Review Date: Jun 2027
MID Ref: 25021140