AQW 32525/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 31/03/2014
Answered On Date: 03/04/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s proposal for an additional MRI scanner at Antrim Area Hospital.

Answer:

This proposal remains under consideration.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) submitted a revised Outline Business Case (OBC) in respect of an additional MRI scanner at Antrim Area Hospital to my Department for consideration on 29 January 2014.

The Trust’s preferred option within the business case will provide a second scanner at the Antrim Area Hospital, increasing capacity by approximately 2,930 examinations and offering a contingency for the maintenance of the NHSCT MRI service in the event of failure or prolonged breakdown of the existing scanner.

Departmental advisors have assessed the revised OBC and their comments have been issued to the Trust to address.