Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Burton for raising this important matter and I concur with her comments on the excellence and hard work of staff at Connolly Hospital. As a former staff member of the hospital, there is no doubt about the wonderful work that occurs therein.

The prioritisation of capital requirements is a matter for individual hospitals, including Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. A hospital must indicate to the HSE the priority attaching to each development with regard to other competing needs within the hospital. When Connolly Hospital identified its capital requirements for 2008-09 to the executive, an MRI scanner was not among the hospital's immediate capital priorities. This was on the basis of the current numbers of patients presenting at the hospital for the service and the clinical requirement to treat large volumes of patients so as to ensure consistent quality service provision. The HSE has indicated that there is no waiting list for MRI services at Connolly Hospital. The clinical requirements of the hospital's patients for MRI services are currently being met through Beaumont Hospital or via the purchase of private capacity.

The potential for developing an MRI service at Connolly Hospital was identified in the context of the development of a co-located private hospital on the campus and associated increased patient volumes. I understand that the executive will take a decision on this matter in the context of proposals for developing a co-located private hospital at the Connolly Hospital site. This is in the context of the co-location initiative allowing for new ways for the public and private sectors to work together on a single campus.

The HSE is aware that Connolly Hospital has experienced increased activity levels for diagnostics and will continue to monitor these on an ongoing basis with a view to developing increased capacity, if required.

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