§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the implications of using mobile scanning facilities to increase the number of MRI scans conducted in the Province. [187437]
§ Angela SmithMobile scanners have been used by some HSS Trusts as a temporary measure to enhance provision while new MRI scanners, funded by the New Opportunities Fund at a cost of £6.4 million, are installed at the Ulster, Antrim, Craigavon and Belfast City Hospitals. Using mobile scanners has been found to be an effective way to alleviate waiting times for patients alongside the introduction of additional evening scanning sessions at some hospital sites.