Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1999

Vol. 500 No. 7

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

308 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that an MRI scan identified by a neurosurgeon as necessary at the earliest opportunity involves a wait in Dublin of eight months for a public patient but for a private patient can be done in two days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5126/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

Magnetic resonance imaging facilities in the public hospital sector are available at Beaumont Hospital, where 5,587 patients are scanned per annum. This scanner services in-patients, out-patients and referrals from other health boards and hospitals. The service is provided during normal working hours and the current average waiting time is seven months for neurosurgery patients and three months for orthopaedic patients.

I understand that requests for MRI scans at Beaumont Hospital are prioritised using strict protocols based on medical need. I have been advised by Beaumont Hospital authorities that there is no discrimination between public and private patients for this service. I have been further advised by the authorities at Beaumont Hospital that its MRI scanner is leased to the hospital's private clinic outside of normal public hours. The booking arrangements for patients are a matter for the private clinic and do not interfere with prioritisation of public patients during normal operating time. The income generated by leasing the MRI scanner to the private clinic goes towards funding the normal operation of the MRI scanner. If an emergency MRI scan needs to be performed outside normal hours, these patients get priority.

My Department has been aware of the need to monitor and evaluate overall MRI requirements in the public hospital service. Accordingly, an expert study of the existing arrangements for the provision of MRI facilities nationwide and likely future demand in this area was commissioned from Professor David Banta, an international expert in health technology assessment. Professor Banta's findings were announced in 1997. As I have already outlined to the House, he identified the need to develop MRI facilities at University College Hospital, Galway, St. James's Hospital and the new Tallaght Hospital. All three hospitals have now submitted applications to my Department for the development of MRI facilities on the foot of the acceptance of Professor Banta's recommendations. My Department is currently in discussion with the management of the three agencies concerning the installation and operational requirements for their facilities. Once these discussions have been satisfactorily concluded, I am committed to making the necessary resources available for the provision of MRI facilities at the three sites. I am confident that this will have a positive impact on the overall waiting list and waiting times for MRI scans throughout the public health sector.

I am conscious that the pace of developments in this area is fast moving, both in terms of the technologies involved and their applications. I can assure the Deputy that the evolving needs of the acute hospital service for high-technology imaging facilities will be taken into consideration in implementing the commitments set out earlier.