§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish details of the criteria to be used in order to make the next allocations of CT and MRI scanners. [53891]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 2 May 2002]: Consultations regarding criteria for the allocation of 50 additional computed tomography and 50 additional 407W magnetic resonance imaging scanners, as outlined in the NHS Cancer Plan, have already begun involving regions and the cancer networks and are being extended to include the new strategic health authorities.
One of the factors in establishing criteria for the allocation of additional equipment will be the relative provision of CT and MRI services to the population served. Work has already been carried out to assess this and the consultation process is now allowing these data to be verified at a local level.
Efficiency of use of existing scanners is also a factor when considering additional allocations of equipment.
It is expected that criteria will be published early in the summer as soon as discussions are completed, to be followed by the list of agreed allocations to individual hospitals later in the summer.