Friday July 10, 2026
Eastern Health takes the safety and quality of our diagnostic services extremely seriously, and patient care remains our highest priority.
While an RF shielding issue has been identified, only a small number of scans are impacted, and all images are rigorously reviewed to ensure diagnostic accuracy, patient safety has not been compromised.
A vast majority of scans are unaffected by this situation, however if patients have any questions or concerns, please contact feedback@easternhealth.org.au or 03 8804 0465.
Further information provided by A/Professor Mineesh Datta (MBBS FRANZCR GAICD)
Clinical Director – Eastern Health Medical Imaging
Is it safe to have an MRI at Maroondah Hospital?
Yes. MRI does not use radiation, and the shielding issue does not affect the safety of the scanner or of having a scan. The issue relates to the clarity of some images, not patient safety.
Every MRI examination is reviewed by a specialist Radiologist to confirm it is of diagnostic quality before it is reported. If interference has affected an examination to the point that it cannot fully answer the clinical question, the patient is contacted and a repeat scan is arranged at Box Hill Hospital at no cost.
What is an image artefact?
An artefact is a visible distortion on an MRI image that does not reflect the body itself. In this case, the artefact is due to an issue with the radiofrequency shielding that surrounds the MRI suite. The MRI scanner itself is working normally.
An MRI works by detecting very faint radio signals from the body. The room’s shielding is designed to block outside radio noise — from sources such as mobile phones, radio transmissions and other electronic equipment — from reaching the scanner. Where the shielding is not performing as intended, some of that noise can appear on images as visible interference, similar to static on a screen. Importantly, an artefact appears on an image; it does not change what is actually present in the body.
How often are patients affected by the artefact?
Only a small proportion of examinations are affected. The interference is also predictable — it tends to appear in particular types of examinations and in recognisable patterns — which means our Radiologists and MRI staff know where to look for it and can assess every scan accordingly. Unaffected scans are of entirely normal clarity.
How will I know if my scan is affected?
You do not need to do anything. Every examination is checked — first by the MRI Technologist at the time of the scan, and then by the reporting Radiologist. The artefact is readily identifiable during these reviews. If your examination has been affected in a way that requires a repeat scan, Eastern Health will contact you directly and arrange it as a priority. If you have not been contacted, your scan was of diagnostic quality. If you have any concerns, you are welcome to speak with your Referring Doctor, who can review the report with you.