Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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615. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list for an MRI in Children’s Health Ireland, Crumlin; the expected time spent on the waiting list; the projected time it will take to clear the backlog for MRIs in Crumlin for children; if his Department and the HSE are examining the use of the MRI and paediatric unit in a hospital (details supplied) as a viable option with respect of diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of sick children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41362/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the provision of MRI services, Children's Health Ireland (CHI) has advised my Department that the demand for specialist imaging has increased over recent years due to increased activity and acuity in CHI, as well as an increasing trend to utilise imaging in diagnosis and treatment. 

Uniquely to Paediatrics, younger children and children up to 18 years old with complex needs may be unable to remain still in an MRI for the lengthy periods required to complete the scan, resulting in the requirement for a General Anaesthetic (GA) to be delivered by a Paediatric Anaesthesiologist.  This limits the ability for these scans to be performed outside of CHI hospitals. Each request for an MRI scan is carefully examined by Consultant Radiologists who must prioritise each case, based on clinical urgency, in terms of access to the scanner. 

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy regarding the MRI waiting list in CHI Crumlin and the examination of the possible use of the hospital referred to for the provision of MRI services, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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616. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children currently waiting on an MRI for both diagnosis of and-or monitoring of disease in all CHOs and hospitals nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41363/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.