Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

University Hospital Waterford opened a new CT scanner in April 2015. I understand the staff who operated the older scanner were redeployed to the new machine but no additional staff resources were available to allow for the continued operation of the old machine. Operation of the new scanner required additional nursing and health care assistant staff. Delays in staff recruitment at that time contributed to a corresponding delay in the operational opening of the new scanner. There was no interruption to the CT service available to patients as a full service continued to be provided with the older scanner until the new machine was fully operational.

The new CT scanner is of a much higher specification than the older model and allows the radiology department to significantly improve the quality of imaging provided to a standard more appropriate to a modern health service. In saying that, the older scanner is still in working order and is used, on occasion, such as during scheduled preventative maintenance and unscheduled downtime on the new scanner, in order to ensure continuity of service.

It is planned to use the older machine to manage waiting lists for routine, non-urgent diagnostic work. This should reduce wait times overall for patients in the south east who require diagnostic imaging and will free up access to the new scanner for more critical cases. I am advised that a business case is being developed for the additional staff required for this purpose.

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