McGimpsey announces a new £600,000 CT Scanner for Daisy Hill Hospital

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said that Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry is to benefit from a new state of the art 64 slice CT Scanner costing £600,000.

This investment will allow the Trust to provide a much improved range of diagnostic scanning services within Daisy Hill Hospital and reduce the need to transfer patients to Craigavon when more complex scans are required.

Announcing the £600,000 investment, Michael McGimpsey said: “This development in scanning at Daisy Hill Hospital will greatly improve the experience of patients as scans will be completed more quickly with higher quality images in a single scanning session.

“Advances in scanning technology now provide a much higher quality image and give our clinicians the accuracy they require to assist in their diagnosis.

“It is important that we continue to invest in the appropriate technology which will improve services for all our patients.

“Today’s investment in Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, further demonstrates my commitment to modernise our health and social care services and ensure patients have timely access to the services they need.”

Notes to editors:

1. The single slice scanner at Daisy Hill Hospital has been in operational from 2000 and is thought to be one of the last still is use within Northern Ireland.

2. The new CT Scanner will provide the potential for increased scanning capacity and a wider range of diagnostic services within Daisy Hill Hospital. No service changes have been approved in this business case.

3. It is hoped the new CT Scanner will be operational in the Autumn.

4. All capital expenditure is subject to the normal business case approval process and funding availability.

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