asked the Minister for Health (a) the number of CT and other such scanners currently employed in the health services (b) the hospitals in which they are located (c) the capital and current costs associated with each (d) the sources of the capital used to purchase such equipment (e) the numbers of scans carried out by each centre and (f) the plans his Department have in relation to the future provision of such services.
Written Answers. - CT Scanners
There are currently six CT scanners in public hospitals in Ireland. These are located at Beaumont Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, Cork Regional Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Cork, Galway Regional Hospital and the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
Nuclear medical resonance imaging is available in the Mater Private Hospital only. However, there is an arrangement whereby public patients can avail of this service.
Gamma cameras are located at Beaumont Hospital, the Mater, the Meath, St. James's, St. Anne's cancer hospital, St. Luke's cancer hospital, Limerick Regional Hospital, Cork Regional Hospital, the Mercy Hospital, Cork, and Galway Regional Hospital.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a table giving the information sought by the Deputy regarding current costs and workload of each centre. I regret that I am not in a position to supply to the Deputy information on the capital cost of the CT scanners and other such equipment since such information is regarded as confidential to my Department so as not to distort the tendering procedures which apply in acquiring such equipment.
With regard to future plans, my approval has been conveyed to a proposal to install a CT scanner at St. James's Hospital and I am making funds available to the Southern Health Board for a replacement CT scanner at Cork Regional Hospital.
Data on CT and other Scanners in Public Hospitals
Health Board Area Hospital |
Type of Scanner |
Source of Funding |
Revenue Cost (1987) Per Annum |
Number of Scans (1987) |
Eastern Beaumont |
CT |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
4,464 |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
6,120 |
|
Mater |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
£260,000 |
2,621 |
C.T. |
Private |
£170,000 |
1,280 |
|
Meath |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
1,591 |
St. James's |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
1,467 |
St. Vincent's |
CT |
Funded in part from Exchequer; contribution of £0.33 million from private funds. |
£300,000 |
4,946 |
St. Anne's |
Gamma Camera |
Voluntary |
£28,267(non-pay) |
600 |
St. Lukes's |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
734 |
Mid-Western Limerick |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
not in use 1987 |
not in use 1987 |
Southern Cork Regional |
CT |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
4,974 |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
n.a. |
1,721 |
|
Mercy |
CT |
Purchased privately by hospital recently. |
not in use in 1987 |
not in use in 1987 |
Gamma Camera |
Voluntary donations |
n.a. |
551 |
|
Western Galway Regional |
CT |
Exchequer |
not in use 1987 |
not in use 1987 |
Gamma Camera |
Exchequer |
£23,000 |
688 |