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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 2nd JULY 2013
Question
Would the Minister advise the current waiting list for scans, such as MRI and justify the length?
Answer
MRI Scans Out-patient requests
Urgent Done within the week
Moderate Done within 2-3 weeks
Routine Next available routine appointment – at present -9 week wait
In-patients
All requests are done on the same day where possible, Monday to Friday.
Demand for MRI scans increases every year. In addition to the demand for MRI scans for diagnostic reasons the complexity of some of the examinations is increasing which means that individual appointment times must now be longer.
MRI Workload (Number of Examinations)
7500 7000 6500 6000 5500 5000
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2009 2010 2011 2012
Year
The number of staff has not increased in this period and all efficiencies have been realised, this includes scrutinising the referrals to ensure that only appropriate requests are accepted. The only way to manage the increase in demand for this service is to increase the capacity. The service operates from 07.30 hours to 20.00 hours Monday to Friday.
To manage the increase in demand routine lists are now booked and undertaken by staff from 08.30 hours to 17.30 hours every Saturday with occasional Sunday lists.
The situation is being closely monitored. There is now little un-used time on the MRI scanner. If the demand continues to rise at the present level, a second MRI scanner and additional staff will be required in the next few years.
Ultrasound scans Out-patient requests
Urgent Done within the week
Moderate Done within 2-3 weeks
Routine Next available routine appointment – at present -10 week wait
In-patients
All requests are done on the same day where possible, Monday to Friday.
Out of normal working hours an on call service for urgent cases is provided (24/7 cover).
Vascular ultrasound scans for venous insufficiency Routine wait of 28 weeks.
The demand for ultrasound scans increases every year.
The number of staff has not increased in the past three years (period of this analysis) and all efficiencies have been realised, this includes scrutinising the referrals to ensure that only appropriate requests are accepted. The only way to manage the increase in demand for this service is to increase the capacity. At present routine lists are being booked and undertaken on a Saturday with staff working overtime.
The situation is being closely monitored. Funding has been agreed to manage the waiting list. However, if demand continues to rise, additional staff will be required. Recruiting sonographers to Jersey would, however, be difficult due to a national shortage.