PM 'delighted' by new £250m Siemens health facility

The Prime Minister said he was 'delighted' by the announcement

A healthcare company has announced a new £250m UK facility that will design and manufacture magnets used in MRI scans.

Siemens Healthineers said it hopes the development in north Oxfordshire will create more than 1,300 jobs once fully operational.

The site will be home to technology that minimises the use of helium, making scanners lighter, easier to install and more sustainable.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt were both in Oxfordshire for the announcement.

Mr Sunak said he was "delighted" the county had been chosen as the facility's home - with the decision "reinforcing the region’s status as a vanguard in healthcare and R&D".

"As well as the incredible local benefits this will bring, this cutting-edge facility also presents an opportunity to enhance patient care globally – which means British innovation is saving lives around the world," he added.

The PM and Chancellor visited Siemen Healthineers facility in Eynsham

Construction of the 56,000 sq metre site has already begun - with it expected to open in 2026.

It will be the UK’s first major production site for new so-called DryCool technology, which reduces the amount of helium required in an MRI scanner.

Chief executive of Siemens Healthineers Bernd Montag said: “As a world leader in medical imaging, we are very proud to open the next chapter of our history here in Oxford."

The new facility is expected to create more than 1,300 jobs

"The new factory will also include a research and development hub responsible for new technologies - such as designing and manufacturing some of the world’s smallest and most lightweight whole-body scanners," he said.

Siemens Healthineers said the facility would "provide a range of financial, infrastructure and environmental benefits" to the local economy.

The company currently employs 600 people at its facility in Eynsham.