Calderdale Royal Hospital has become the first NHS hospital to introduce Disney-themed MRI scanners designed to make scans less frightening for children.
The Halifax hospital is among the early adopters of a new collaboration between healthcare technology giant Philips and The Walt Disney Company, which uses lighting, sound and Disney characters to transform MRI environments into more immersive and calming spaces for young patients.
The rollout is part of a wider international launch across 87 countries, with more than 100 NHS hospitals already using Philips’ Ambient Experience system now eligible to access the Disney-themed content at no additional cost.
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Around 200,000 children undergo MRI scans in the UK each year, with many finding the experience distressing due to the loud noises, enclosed spaces and need to remain still for long periods.
The system allows children and families to choose from a range of Disney-themed experiences featuring characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Marvel superheroes, Star Wars characters and Disney Princesses.
Clinicians at Calderdale Royal Hospital say the technology is already delivering significant results.
“We have huge success with this and our general anaesthetic rate has come right down,” one radiologist at the hospital said.
According to Philips, peer-reviewed European research conducted across six hospitals found that stress levels among children aged six to 10 fell by 43% after scans when using the immersive Disney-themed environments. The study also found pauses during scans dropped by 63%.
MRI procedures can often require sedation or repeat scans if children become distressed or struggle to remain still, increasing pressure on care teams and reducing the number of patients hospitals can see each day.
“At Disney, we believe stories have the power to bring comfort and emotional connection to children and families,” said Lisa Haines, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at The Walt Disney Company.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Philips to extend that impact into MRI rooms in a meaningful way—using our beloved stories and characters to help provide moments of escape, normalcy, and reassurance during what can be an intimidating experience for kids in hospitals.”
Atul Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, Diagnosis and Treatment at Philips, added: “By bringing Disney stories into the MRI environment, we are helping create a setting where children can feel more at ease and remain still during scans.
“Reducing stress can improve the experience for young patients and their families, while helping care teams deliver efficient, high-quality imaging so they can care for more children each day, supporting better care for more people.”
Philips said Calderdale Royal Hospital and Rady Children’s Health of Orange County in the US are among the first hospitals already using the Disney-themed MRI environments and reporting positive patient and staff feedback.
