MRI delays due to increased demand not a lack of staff

Sunday 22 July 2018

Increasing demand for MRI scans is leading to waiting lists developing, despite the Committee for Health and Social Care taking on more staff to cope.

HSC said the equipment itself is "fully operational and available to islanders" in response to claims on social media that it had broken down.

HSC also said that the MRI scanner has in fact seen only "minimal amounts of unplanned downtime in its 11 years of service to the Bailiwick."

The concerns were raised by a patient who said they had to wait "months" for a scan but HSC said this is likely to be down to increased demand for its services rather than a fault with the scanner or any staff sickness.

"A team of highly trained Radiographers operate the scanner and we work hard to minimise the impact that any unavoidable staff sickness might otherwise cause," a spokesperson said.

"Waiting time delays for MRI scans over the last three years have been caused by a year on year increase in demand for MRI scans, with the service experiencing increases in demand of roughly 8-10% each year.

"Increases in demand for MRI scanning are a global trend and nothing exceptional has been seen here in Guernsey but we do have to accommodate this demand, which can sometimes lead to a delay."

HSC also said that it is taking steps to address the delays incurred by the increasing demand for MRI scans. It also acknowledges that further action might be needed.

"In response to rising demand, HSC has recently increased the capacity of the MRI scanner with opening times extended to provide additional capacity by employing a total of four locum staff (a radiologist doctor, two MRI radiographers and an additional sonographer).

"The recent increases in MRI scanning capacity are being closely monitored to ensure the wait times improve or to determine what additional action might be required over and above this investment.”