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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY S.S.P.A. POWER OF ST. BRELADE.
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2007 Question
Would the Minister advise the Assembly -
- th e average cost to the public ofanMRIscan charged to theHealthandSocialServicesDepartment compared to a scan charged to a private health scheme?
- w h ether the MRI scanner paid for by publicdonations has becomeobsoleteaftersome 36,000 scans, how many ofthescans were paid for privately orby private health insuranceandwhatfinancialadvantagedid the public gain from suchagreement?
- w i ll the Minister advisewhether a new MRIscanner will be provided by the taxpayerandif so, will it continue tobeusedby individuals whoprovide a scanning service for private healthcare or private health insurance patients, and if that is the case, what arrangementsare being made to makethese private concernspay an appropriatefeefor this service?
Answer
- T h e current cost to Health and Social Servicesof providing oneMRIscan is approximately£176.00. Public patients are charged £21.00 for this service. Private patients are charged £650.00perexamination. This may be higher if more than one examinationis requested and is in line with the fee structure negotiated with private health insurancecompanies.
- T h e scanner, paid forby public donations, was installed in 1999.It has nowbecomeobsoleteandisno longer serviceable or sufficiently reliable for the work required by Health and Social Services. During the eight yearsof operation, 8,332 scans were undertaken privately. This is approximately23%of the total number of scanswhichhasproduced a profit of £1.6 m forreinvestment in the Department.
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- T h e new scannerhas been secured in part exchange for the oldone with the balance paid forbythe taxpayer. It will continue to provide a comprehensive service for all, with the patient / insurance companiespaying a fee to the hospital and the radiologists for private scans.
The profit gained will continue to be reinvested to support of the Department's overall provision.