§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) ultrasound machines, (b) gamma cameras, (c) x-ray machines and (d) CT scanners the NHS has; in which hospital trust each machine is situated; and what the age of each machine is. [132780]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThere is no information held by the Department of Health concerning the location or age of ultrasound scanners or x-ray machines. The latest available published data on locations of gamma cameras is available from a survey carried out in 2000 and is published at: http://www/canceruk.net/reports/ gammadata/gammadata.htm
There are currently 322 computed tomography (CT) scanners installed in the National Health Service in England.
A programme to provide an additional 50 machines was announced on 22 May 2003 as well as funding to support a programme of replacement over the next three years. We anticipate there will be approximately 375 CT scanners by the end of 2004, and by December 2006, no CT scanner will be older than 10 years.
The list of CT scanners currently installed has been placed in the Library.