Séamus Hughes
Question:147 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the cost of an MRI Scan in Dublin hospitals in comparison with the cost of this procedure outside of Dublin. [19142/95]
Written Answers. - MRI Machines.
Séamus Hughes
Question:148 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the number of MRI Scan machines in Ireland; the approximate cost of a new machine; the average annual maintenance cost to include operating costs; the number of such machines funded totally from the Exchequer; and the number provided by means of part community voluntary contributions. [19143/95]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together. A magnetic resonance imaging scanner was provided at Beaumont Hospital in February 1993 to meet the needs of the public hospital service. This facility cost approximately £2 million and was met from the capital resources available to my Department. Private magnetic resonance imaging facilities are also available at the following hospitals; the Mater Private Hospital, St. Vincent's Private Hospital, the Blackrock Clinic and Cork University Hospital.
The MRI facility at Beaumont, which is the only public MRI, was provided on the basis that it would serve both public and private patients, with private patients paying a charge for the facility. Where health boards or other public hospitals refer public patients to Beaumont Hospital for this service, the charge is made on the agency making the referral not on the individual public patient.
The annual operating cost of the scanner in Beaumont Hospital is £0.485 million. Charges for MRI scans in the Dublin area range from £280 to £363 depending on the nature of the scan required. A charge of between £252 and £269 is paid by the public hospital service in respect of scans carried out on the privately owned MRI at Cork University Hospital.
I am not aware of any instance where community voluntary contributions have been used to fund the acquisition or operation of any of the MRI scanners currently in use.