How Unthoughtful!

This is no laughing matter.

And, this is NOT the first time that I have encountered this problem.

Yet, I still DO NOT understand why there is a lack of modern technology in this era!

Now, what am I talking about?

Well, simply the fact that there are quite a number of obese patients in the country that could not fit into MRI, or CT scanners.

One of the patients in the hospital needed an urgent MRI scan to investigate for spinal cord compression. Unfortunately, although he is not obese, he still could not fit into the MRI scanner. The radiographers have blamed it on his big tummy! There are no larger MRI scanners in this region....and I heard someone mentioned that there might be a specialised MRI scanner for obese patient in Sheffield, or the patient could use the scanners build for the use of animals.

What I do not understand is, why aren't there many larger scanners available in this country? I mean, surely, the government realise that obesity is a problem in the UK. And surely, this problem occurs quite frequently. Ok, I admit I do not much about the physics and mechanics of these scanners...but one would have thought that if there are scanners available for large animals, why can't there be ones build for larger patients?

MRI scans are more helpful in identifying spinal cord problems compare to CT scans. Are we depriving larger patients more accurate diagnostic investigations? If building larger machines is not the answer, then what is?

I guess you can ask these patients to try to lose weight...but that would take quite awhile. Moreover, the scans are needed to be done on an asap basis. I guess health professionals just have to treat empirically and use their best clinical judgement for such cases. Or, utilise other investigative methods to investigate an illness by the process of elimination.