§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in(a) East Sussex and (b) England are waiting for MRI scans; and what the longest time is that a patient has had to wait for an MRI appointment. [137081]
§ Mr. HuttonSpecific data on waiting times for diagnostic tests are not collected centrally. The central returns capture consultant speciality level data on waits for a first out-patient appointment and for in-patient admissions.
However, it is the Government's priority to ensure that all patients are seen quickly in the first instance so that if diagnostic tests are required they are requested sooner. Where this is not the case, we are determined to speed up the process. The national health service is committed to reducing the length of time that people wait before their treatment starts and the NHS Plan set targets for staged reductions in waiting times.
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§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to provide additional MRI scanning capacity in East Sussex. [137082]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonBrighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust have been identified as priorities for an additional magnetic resonance imaging scanner from central funding. Both scanners will be delivered by December 2004.