Mr. James Cosgrave:

Typically we do not refer for CAT scans. Part of regulation 14.4 states the radiologist receiving the referral must be satisfied the study is required and necessary.

No, the main referrals will be for simple lumbar spine or cervical spine or knee or hip X-ray. We tend to use a lot more MRI nowadays. Therefore, the amount of X-ray referral is actually decreasing, not increasing, and I think this trend will continue. I can see in the foreseeable future that MRI will be much more readily available and utilised much more often. MRI does not involve ionising radiation. Nonetheless, the fact that chiropractors will potentially not be listed as referees under the new regulations could interrupt access for MRI referrals because the assumption is that the private facilities may well be unhappy to take referrals for MRI if chiropractors are locked outside these new regulations completely, even though MRI does not involve ionising radiation.