Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government to which Health Regions the EMI Scanner has already been supplied; what was the cost to the Department of Health and Social Security for each Region; and when the capital allocation for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Area Health Authority for the coming year will be announced.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, the EMI Brain Scanner is a product of British technology which has been recognised as the leading diagnostic X-ray machine of its type all over the world. A total of six machines have been supplied and contracts have been placed for a further 12,of which one is for the Newcastle General Hospital. The Department of Health and Social Security was responsible for research and development assistance and for the initial purchase of five Scanners, including a prototype, at a total cost of £550,672. Subsequent machines have been and will be purchased by health authorities out of their normal capital allocations. I regret that I cannot say when the Area Health Authority will be notified of its capital allocation.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether it would not have been fairer, having regard to the fact that there is very little money available for the Health Authorities now, if each Health 872 Region had been given one of these important new technological instruments? Is he aware that in my part of the world we are very regretful of the fact that the Government did not think that each Health Area should have one sent to it? Is the noble Lord further aware that, had we had one, two lives would probably already have been saved? Will he please not discriminate against my Region any further?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, to answer the last part of the noble Baroness's supplementary question first, there is no discrimination against her Region. It is within the competence of her Health Authority to order one of these machines, and if she inquires she may well find that they have in fact already done so.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, with regard to the general matter of the Department giving each of the RHA's one of these machines, it has been established practice for many years that the Regional Health Authorities decide their own priorities and the expenditure comes out of their allocations.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEThen, my Lords, can the noble Lord very kindly tell me which two Regions were given, at the Health Authority's expense, one of these very new technological instruments?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I was not aware that any Health Authority had been given a Scanner, but I will endeavour to find out and let the noble Baroness know.