The urgent need for MRI and CT scanning equipment in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry for now and the future, was pointed out by many people in responses to the Draft Consultation called ‘Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care’, (which closed in January 2018.)

The Department of Health NI has published the Final Framework and Summary of Responses documents on their website. (Links are available below)

WAITING LISTS GROW IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST

 

As demand for diagnostic MRI and CT scans in the Southern Trust area increases, this need for more imaging equipment becomes more urgent.

Of the 5 Health Trusts in Northern Ireland – the Southern Trust had the HIGHEST number of people (26,383) on the URGENT Waiting list in need of CT diagnostic scanning, out of 34,137 people waiting for CT scans in the Southern Trust. (for the period 31st July 2017 – 30th June 2018).

The Southern Trust also had the 2nd highest number of people in NI on the URGENT waiting list for diagnostic MRI scans during the same period (9,419 people).

Providing extra CT and MRI scanners in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry – in the largest locality in the Southern Trust would improve these waiting lists.

However there is NO CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROPOSED as a PRIORITY for the replacement of the eight year old CT Scanner, or new MRI and CT scanners in DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL (for 2014 to 2022).

Source: Imaging Review Equipment Management Document, see pg 31/32 table extract shown below *

 

Extracts from this document show plans for proposed CT/MRI Scanning Equipment Investment (2014 – 2022) and the level of priority the Trust assigns it.

New/Replacement equipment is NOT a TRUST PRIORITY for DAISY HILL Acute Hospital, Newry City.

Trust Priority         EQUIPMENT                 £ Est. Cost

NOT A PRIORITY;  MRI SCANNER Daisy Hill  £500k  for 2016/17

NOT A PRIORITY;  CT SCANNER Daisy Hill    £500k  for 2016/17

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In the same period, the Trust assigns Priority 1, 2, 3 (2014 – 2022) for CT/MRI equipment for CRAIGAVON Hospital at a TOTAL COST of nearly £4.5 MILLION

Trust Priority         EQUIPMENT                £ Est. Cost

PRIORITY 1;          2ND NEW CT Scanner    £2 million       for 2015 /16
PRIORITY 2;          2ND MRI Scanner          £1.5 million    for 2014/15
PRIORITY 3;          UPGRADE CT Scanner    £495K            for  2015/16
PRIORITY 3;          UPGRADE CT Scanner    £500K            for 2021/22

Trust priority 1, 2, 3 (2014 – 2022) for CRAIGAVON > TOTAL COST nearly £4.5 MILLION

(Source: Imaging Review Equipment Management Document, see pg 31/32 table)

£62.8 MILLION PROPOSED INVESTMENT FUNDING 2014/15 – 2022 FOR IMAGING EQUIPMENT IN NI

Under the ‘Proposed Major Equipment Investment Programme’ (see Annex D Equipment Management Document) – all five Health Trusts in NI have asked for a total of £62.8 million from the Department of Health for New and Replacement of major imaging equipment (from 2014/15 to 2022) under Royal College of Radiologists guidelines.

The Trust have asked for nearly £4.5 million of this proposed Investment as a Trust Priority for CT and MRI scanning equipment for Craigavon only between 2014 to 2022.

One proposed new CT scanner in Craigavon Hospital for 2015/16 (Trust Priority 1) was itemised to cost £2million, this is enough money to pay for one Necessary MRI scanner as well as 1 Vital CT scanner in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

Daisy Hill Hospital is not even down as a Trust Priority to get a REPLACEMENT CT scanner (to replace the CT scanner which was installed in 2010) even though the Royal College of Radiologist guidelines should be adhered to.

DEMOGRAPHICS (population)

Using the latest population estimates (June 2017), Newry & Mourne Locality has the largest Local population (105,161) of the five former Local Government Districts of Newry & Mourne, Banbridge, Dungannon, Armagh and Craigavon in the operational area of the Southern Trust.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city should currently have at least TWO NEW diagnostic MRI and 2 NEW CT scanners, plus a NEW MOBILE SCANNER and NEW SCREENING ROOMS, as in Craigavon Local Government District (which always had a smaller Local Government District or Locality population.)

Do you agree? If so, please continue to speak up for Daisy Hill. Continued support from the Community, Politicians, Individuals, Trade Unions and businesses on this issue is URGENTLY NEEDED NOW.

BACKGROUND INFO & LINKS

Links to the Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care Consultation documents referred to in this article are below:

*Link to Imaging Review Equipment Management doc –  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/consultations/health/Imaging%20Review%20%20Equipment%20Management%20pdf.pdf  (See pages 31 -32 for Southern Trust planned Investment including Daisy Hill Hospital)

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/IR-responses.pdf

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/strategic-framework-imaging-services-health-and-social-care

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