Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 6

Written Answers. - Radiology Services.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

296 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the portion of the overall capital revenue spend for the health service which is devoted to the provision of radiology services; and the breakdown of this spend for 2003 by health board. [24031/03]

Conor Lenihan

Question:

298 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he can identify from the implementation of his health strategy the plans his Department has to achieve savings within the budget for hospitals with regard to radiology services. [24033/03]

Conor Lenihan

Question:

299 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on whether significant savings can be achieved in hospitals as a result of the introduction of new digital technologies in the area of radiology services. [24034/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 298 and 299 together.

Revenue spending on radiology services, while not directly collected by my Department, is available to some extent as part of the specialty costs returns submitted by the 32 hospitals which participate in the national casemix programme. My Department is compiling information in this respect at present and will be in touch with the Deputy as soon as possible. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to capital funding is not readily available in my Department.

Individual health boards and hospitals are in the process of developing their radiology services with the procurement of picture archiving and communication systems, PACS, and integrated image management systems, IIMS. These developments will undoubtedly have benefits for patients and result in the more efficient operation of radiology departments. The development of systems such as PACS and IIMS will have a cost factor as there is a need to employ additional staff to run the systems, and the associated cost of the service contract on the systems will need to be met.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

297 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children the percentage of the total spending on hospitals which is dedicated to the provision of radiology services; and if this figure can be broken down for each of the local health boards for the latest year for which statistics are available. [24032/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The information, to which the Deputy refers, while not directly collected by my Department, is available to some extent as part of the specialty costs returns submitted by the 32 hospitals which participate in the National Casemix Programme.

We are currently reviewing that data in order to compile some information in respect of the 32 hospitals mentioned above. This will require some additional time. The information will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Questions Nos. 298 and 299 answered with Question No. 296.