New Equipment Helps Children at Oxford Hospital Avoid Sedation

A new child-friendly device at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford is helping young patients undergo medical scans while awake, reducing the need for general anaesthetic. The facility, part of Oxford University Hospitals, introduced the miniature MRI machine, known as a kitten scanner, in early May 2026 to help ease the anxiety children often feel before diagnostic procedures.

The equipment, manufactured by Philips and costing approximately £15,000, was funded by Oxford Hospitals Charity. It allows children to play with a miniature replica of an MRI machine and watch cartoons before their actual appointment. By helping children feel more comfortable and less afraid, the hospital reports that many young patients no longer need to fast beforehand, can avoid injections, and spend less time in the hospital.

Senior Play Specialist Sonia Dugmore, who leads the play preparation programme alongside the new scanner, noted that the device has already drawn a positive reaction from patients, turning fear into fun. According to Cyrene Saga, an Advanced Clinical Specialist MRI Radiographer, the hospital performs between 30 and 50 MRI scans on children every month. The new tool is already helping the team conduct more of these scans without using sedation.

Ella Cooper of the Oxford Hospitals Charity said the project caught their imagination, adding that it is wonderful to see the transformation in children’s faces when they start playing with the scanner. The initiative marks the hospital as one of only a small number of sites in the UK to offer this specialised equipment. Similar scanners used in other parts of the country have been shown to save approximately £150,000 in sedation and care costs, demonstrating the impact of focusing on a child’s experience during their hospital visit.