§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has issued guidelines on the use of MRI scanners on animals; and if he will make a statement. [101208]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department has not issued specific guidelines on the use of national health service Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners on animals, but the local rules of any MRI unit would ensure that scanning of animals did not contravene either health and safety or infection control policies.
The Medical Devices Agency publication, "Guidelines for Magnetic Resonance Equipment in Clinical Use (Dec-02)", is available to all NHS hospitals and these guidelines cover important aspects of MRI equipment in clinical use, with specific reference to safety.
Scanning of animals is very rarely undertaken in most NHS hospitals, but when it does occur, it usually takes place outside of routine working hours so that patient lists are not in any way disrupted.