Trust accepts case for MRI scanner

Trust accepts case for MRI scanner

25 April 2018

THE Department of Health has been asked to finance the provision of a new MRI scanner at the Downe Hospital.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard insists the money must be provided to allow the hospital to enhance the range of diagnostic services is provides.

Politicians and health campaigners believe the scanner — which takes detailed images of the inside of the body — would enable the Downe to provide an additional range of services and ensure local people would not have to travel outside the district to use such a facility.

Mr Hazzard said he was pleased the South Eastern Trust, which is responsible for the Downpatrick hospital, had accepted the case for further 

developing assessment and diagnostic services at the Downe, including an MRI service.  

He met recently with senior Trust officials to make the case for a new scanner as waiting lists for diagnostic services continue to increase at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, impacting on local patients.

“I am delighted to have received confirmation that the Trust has now accepted the case for an MRI service at the Downe and begun to scope the information required to inform a business case that undoubtedly requires significant capital and revenue funding to be invested,” he continued.

“In light of this, I have asked the Department of Health to release this funding as a matter of priority.

“If it is genuine about transforming our healthcare system into a network of modern, fit-for-purpose hospitals that collectively meet the health needs of local people, it will see the sense in further developing assessment and diagnostic services at the Downe and will work with the South Eastern Trust to deliver an MRI Scanner in Downpatrick as soon as possible.”

South Down MLA Colin McGrath, who is also backing the provision of a new scanner at the hospital, said that while health officials agree a scanner should be provided “failings at Stormont are preventing any such move.”

He continued: “An MRI scanner would be of immense benefit to people across South Down but it would also go some way to restore a bit of faith that Downpatrick hasn’t been forgotten about.   What we have seen is a constant stripping of services from the Downe. We have a state-of-the-art hospital that has capacity to serve the community in so many more ways. The installation of an MRI scanner would be of huge benefit regionally, as well as locally.

“However, I have been advised by the health trust that in the absence of financial direction, this cannot progress at this stage.

“The failings of DUP and Sinn Fein and their inability to form a government is continuing to have far-reaching consequences for many. In this particular case, it is preventing progress in respect of a sophisticated diagnostic tool.

“Local people travel miles and have to often endure long waiting lists for a service that should, and could, be available on their doorstep in Downpatrick.” 

Health campaigners have consistently argued that the provision of such a scanner at the local hospital would help ease pressure on the numbers of people waiting for this type of specialist scan at hospitals in Belfast.

They also believe an MRI scanner at the Downe could be used by patients from outside the district and would allow the local hospital to help improve scan waiting times and outcomes for patients.