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*[Apologies for cross posting on all@pscyh and ynic-users]*
*
Dear budding *and experienced *neuroimagers,
Your colleagues based here in YNiC have worked tirelessly over several
months to maintain services, and in the planning of resuming others.
This means that alongside the successful implementation of remote data
analysis and teaching services, we are now in a position to start
allowing access for face-to-face testing at YNiC.
Initially our focus will be on the resumption of MRI scanning, but we
are working with the help of numerous colleagues in the department to
hopefully allow access to MEG and TMS soon. I'm sure you will appreciate
that there are not only administrative barriers to overcome, but also
practical ones including training of users of the centre to ensure that
services are resumed safely and in accordance with covid-19 guidelines
and protocols. We thank you for your patience.
Access to MRI scanning: making a start
Initially we will focus on delivering safe MRI scanning by using only
YNiC core staff as MRI operators. We are currently focusing on making
sure that our core staff MRI operators are up to speed and comfortable
with the procedures. We hope to have all their training and
certification in place by Wednesday the 21st of October. Once we have a
better handle on how operating safely is going, we hope to be able to
roll out the additional training and certification to currently
qualified YNiC MRI operators.
We would like to invite investigators who have an immediate interest in
resuming MRI scanning to visit, by appointment only, the centre on
Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October (next week). This may seem
counter-intuitive in light of social distancing guidelines but we think
it is important for people to attend the centre first-hand to see what
the practical limitations of operating the scanner, participant
preparation and operation of stimulus equipment will be. We will advise
on additional screening forms that need to be completed and procedures
that need to be carried out. We do not mind doing multiple “tours” for
larger labs as we will need to restrict the number of investigators per
appointment to two persons. Please email support(a)ynic.york.ac.uk
<mailto:suppport@ynic.york.ac.uk>to schedule an appointment.
Off the back of these visits on 22/23 October,we hope to be able to book
investigators in for a scanning session from the week commencing Mon
26th of October - it may be best to think of this as a “pilot” session
initially. This will allow us all to get a better understanding of what
the limitations are likely to be and help us all get set up for
increased volumes of scanning later in the term.
NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE YNIC FORMS, THERE IS A SEPARATE FACE TO
FACE TESTING RISK REGISTER / ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT PROVIDED BY PSYCHOLOGY
THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED BY INVESTIGATORS AND SIGNED OFF BY THE HEAD
OF DEPARTMENT BEFORE SCANNING AT YNIC CAN RESUME.
Lisa Henderson should be able to advise and point you to the current
version of this document.
I am sure you are all keen to get scanning, but I must make an appeal to
all users. Although it may seem that we are offering relatively few
operator hours in initial weeks please bear with us as we build the
service back up. Many of you will know that there have been significant
changes in the staffing at YNiC and that means that we are still finding
our feet and balancing the resources to help you as best we can. Please
remember that there is still a huge amount of effort going on behind the
scenes to support non-scanning activity.
Finally - a phenomenal amount of work has been put into planning
resumption of scanning activities at YNiC and I want to thank you all
for helping us to get going again - a special mention must be given to
Tony Morland who heroically spent the last months of his term as
director of YNiC doing the lion’s share of the crucial (but grueling)
administrative and H&S work that underpins the resumption of services.
We look forward to welcoming you all back into the centre, in a safe and
incremental way.
Best wishes,
*
--
André
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André Gouws PhD
Manager of Imaging Services
York Neuroimaging Centre and York Diagnostic Imaging
University of York
The Biocentre
York Science Park
Heslington
YO10 5NY
Tel: +44 (0) 1904 435327
Fax: +44 (0) 1904 435356
