Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Richard Bruton

Question:

50 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the waiting time on publicly funded MRI scanners is days for private patients but eight months for public patients; the way in which this can be consistent with the stated policy that access is based on medical need; if his attention has been drawn to whether other publicly funded facilities exhibit similar features; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10558/99]

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.

I have already put on record that there is a need for additional capacity within the public hospital system for MRI facilities. As you are aware, my Department has agreed to develop MRI facilities at University College Hospital, Galway, St. James's Hospital and the new hospital in Tallaght and 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 conducted, I am committed to making the necessary resources available for the provision of MRI facilities at three sites. If an emergency MRI scan needs to be performed on public patients outside normal hours, these patients get priority.