AQW 50071/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 30/06/2026
Answered On Date: 22/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 47205/22-27, to detail the average number of scans that are taken each day, broken down by scanner or site.

Answer:

A wide range of scans and imaging examinations are undertaken across Health and Social Care (HSC) settings. The number of examinations completed on any scanner during a given period will vary depending on factors such as the type of examination, patient acuity, clinical complexity, preparation requirements and whether contrast administration is required.

As a result, average activity is expressed in terms of throughput per scanning session rather than as a fixed number of scans per scanner per day. For a typical four-hour non-complex MRI session, average throughput is approximately 8-10 examinations. This figure will be less for highly specialist MRI sessions for example cardiac MRI and scans which require patients to have a general anaesthetic.

The Elective Care Framework Implementation and Funding Plan includes £12 million for diagnostic imaging, including MRI. When fully implemented, this investment will deliver approximately 7,800 imaging sessions each year.