Current status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-754 by Susan Deacon on 17 August, what is the operational status and operational history of the MRI scanners located at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
There are currently 2 MRI scanners at Ninewells Hospital. As part of the initiative to reduce waiting lists, I understand both MRI scanners operated five days per week between January and March 1999. This was made possible mainly by existing radiology staff working additional sessions. However, staff could not sustain that level of activity beyond the short term and between April and June one MRI scanner operated for five days supplemented by two evening sessions. The evening sessions were suspended in July to enable the leave needs of staff to be taken into account but these will resume this month.In the meantime, the Trust is seeking to recruit the additional specialist team of staff necessary to increase MRI scanning activity. Depending on the availablility of suitably trained and experienced staff, the Trust expects to have the second MRI scanner operational three days each week by January 2000. Thereafter, the intention is to increase the service further until both scanners are operational five days per week.