§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to reduce waiting times for MRI scans(a) in Gloucestershire and (b) nationally. [8570]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 18 October 2001]: Investment through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and the NHS Plan will provide 86 magnetic resonance imaging scanners for the National Health Service by 2004. These scanners will support the accurate diagnosis and staging of cancer patients by increasing the number of scans that can be undertaken. The Gloucester Royal Infirmary has been awarded a MRI scanner under the NOF initiative. It is likely to reduce waiting times for MRI scans in Gloucestershire.
The length of time which a patient might have to wait for a MRI scan is dependent on their clinical condition with priority given to emergency cases.