Bernard Allen
Question:144 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will introduce a mobile MRI service. [29886/00]
Written Answers. - Mobile MRI Service.
My Department has been aware of the need to monitor and evaluate overall MRI requirements in the public hospital service, particularly in light of increasing national demand for access to the country's only public MRI scanner at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. 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 identified the need to develop MRI facilities at University College Hospital, Galway, St. James's Hospital, Dublin and the new Tallaght Hospital. In May of this year, I sanctioned substantial funding and capital grants totalling £5.8 million for the provision of MRIs at these three hospitals. The scanners are now installed and will be fully commissioned in the new year.
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 future needs of the acute hospital service for high-technology imaging facilities, including the possible need for a mobile MRI service, will be fully assessed before any future policy decisions are made in this important area of service provision.