A Disney-themed MRI scanner at Calderdale Royal Hospital that has cut general anaesthetic use in children by around 90% has been thrust into an international spotlight after Disney and Philips announced they are making the technology available at no extra cost to hospitals worldwide.
The Huddersfield hospital became the first NHS trust in England to install the Ambient Experience in 2021, funded by a £68,000 investment from CHFT Charity. The system uses mood lighting and lets young patients watch Disney content during their scan, helping them stay still enough to produce diagnostic images. Radiographer Alison Lord noted the difference has been stark: where most children once struggled to complete an MRI without needing a general anaesthetic, the technology has allowed nearly every child to scan successfully.
On 28 May 2026 Disney and Philips confirmed the global rollout, making the Disney-themed Ambient Experience available on Philips MRI scanners in 87 countries. More than 100 eligible NHS hospitals across the UK are set to benefit, alongside nearly 1,000 other facilities worldwide. Disney is providing the artwork and imagery for free. Seven-year-old Esme, who had her own scan at Calderdale in February, described the experience: “It felt weird to start with but was kinda fun though because I got to watch Disney.”
Emma Kovaleski, head of charity and volunteer services at CHFT Charity, said the initial £68,000 investment showed how donor funding could make a real difference to patient care. The charity-backed scanner in Huddersfield has effectively become the test bed for a global paediatric imaging initiative that will now touch children in hospitals from the United States to dozens of other nations. Read more at CHFT News
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