Hospitals and clinics with MRI scanners in Dublin and Cork will have to compete from next year to have their equipment covered by the VHI for outpatient scans.
In a letter to Mr Gerard O'Callaghan, chief executive officer of Cork's South Infirmary Victoria Hospital, the VHI states: "There is currently an adequate supply of approved MRI centres to provide services to our members. Consequently, we are not at present intending to approve any additional scanners for outpatient MRI scans."
Mr Vincent Sheridan, VHI chief executive, wrote that when the VHI's current agreements with hospitals in Dublin and Cork run out next year, it will "introduce a tendering system for MRI services going forward". This, he said, "will allow new suppliers to compete in the market for provision of these services to our members".
The new arrangements will apply to scans for outpatients. Hospital in-patients will be covered for scans in hospital, assuming that the hospital has an agreement with the VHI.
Today is the worst day of the week - from the point of view of delays - to arrive in the emergency department of Beaumont Hospital, Dublin. This information is gleaned from a fascinating section on the Beaumont website which enables people to check out waiting times in the emergency department.
This day last week the average waiting time in the department was just over six hours, longer even than Saturday (just under six hours). Thursday is the "quickest" day, with delays of just under five hours.
At 6 p.m. yesterday, the average waiting time was between four and five hours. Surprisingly, the worst time of day to arrive in the emergency department is early in the morning. People arriving at 7 a.m. on Monday of last week faced a four-hour wait. Those who came in at two or three in the afternoon were seen in less than an hour - and no doubt went home wondering what all the fuss was about.
The informative and very smooth Beaumont website is at http://www.beaumont.ie
Smokers who work in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin could, literally, find themselves out in the cold before long. A recent meeting of the hospital's management team heard "concerns over the health of staff as a consequence of the smoking room". According to the minutes of the meeting, "the appropriateness of this facility (smoking room), mindful of the health implications and the overall South-Western Area Health Board policy in advocating a healthy lifestyle, were discussed". It was agreed that the general manager should "review the situation". Staff planning to give up smoking in the new year might do well to bring that resolution forward by several months or face the rain and hail of winter as they puff their health away on the steps.
Some patients have spent more than three months in the observation ward of Cork University Hospital this year, the hospital's executive management board has been told. The hospital is currently implementing a pilot project to try to ensure that patients are admitted to the correct wards for their conditions. Consultants have been asked to ensure that admissions staff know which consultants are on call for which speciality and who is taking responsibility for admissions.
healthwatch@irish-times.ie Hospital Watch and Checkup on the Web is at: http://www.irel and.com/special/hospital