Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 October 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 November 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 3 November 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will list the (a) average and (b) maximum waiting time in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each NHS trust for CT scans in each of the last six years.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) average and (b) maximum waiting time in (i) England, (ii) each strategic health authority and (iii) each NHS trust for CT scans in each of the last six years. [132781] Miss Melanie Johnson: Data is not collected centrally on waiting times for computed tomography (CT) scans. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for a scan is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, dependent on the clinical priority of all patients waiting to be scanned. Where a CT scan forms part of the diagnostic process for a patient urgently referred with suspected cancer, this will be covered by the target of a maximum two months wait from urgent referral to first treatment, which will be in place for all cancers by the end of 2005. The Cancer Capital Modernisation Fund and the NHS Cancer Plan has provided funding for 200 new and replacement CT scanners to increase the capacity of diagnostic services by 2004.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 132781; 412 c529-30W;412 c535-6W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Hospitals Health authorities NHS trusts Waiting lists Screening Tomography
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk