Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting and the average waiting time for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in Galway University Hospital; when he will complete and evaluate the business case for providing a second scan; his policy objectives in relation to waiting times for MRI scans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16590/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Saolta Healthcare Group recognise that Galway University Hospitals diagnostic waiting list times are unduly lengthy and have advised me that they have recently been able to take some on-going action in this regard. 400 MRI scans have been outsourced to the Merlin Park Imaging Centre (MPIC). The majority of these were completed by April; the remaining patients are being seen currently.

The MRI working day was extended, this commenced in mid-December for two evenings per week. The extended working day means that the service performs 6 additional MRIs on patients each day, resulting in 12 further scans per week to clear those waiting longest. An MRI out of hours service commenced in April and is now working well.

A weekend MRI initiative is examining lists, commencing as of last weekend. This will prepare suitable patients to be assigned for initial weekend scans.

Recruitment efforts are on-going with respect to increasing the number of trained MRI Radiographers currently in the system; there are a significant number of vacancies that still need to be filled. An overall capacity planning exercise, to build sustainable plans with respect to expansion of diagnostic services at Galway University Hospitals, will be undertaken.

An initial business case for a second MRI is in preparation for a formal submission for funding to the HSE.

My Department is working with the NTPF and the HSE in planning initiatives to urgently address waiting lists for those waiting longest, funded by an annual commitment of €50m and including ring-fenced funding of €15million in 2017 for the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he can contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.