The Welsh Government has announced £25 million will be invested in diagnotisc technology across all its health boards.
The funding will be used to purchase imaging and diagnostic equipment such as CT scanners, gamma cameras, and MRI and fluoroscopy x-ray imaging rooms.
It’s hoped the investment will help healthcare providers across Wales tackle an increase in waiting times, they said in the announcement.
Swansea Bay University Health Board will receive £5.5 million towards a CT simulator, to provide 3D treatment planning for cancer patients and Morriston Hospital will upgrade its gamma camera technology and support its fluoroscopy room.
The funding will also be allocated:
- £2.3 million for a CT scanner and two diagnostic radiology rooms at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, in Ystrad Mynach
- £3.3 million for a gamma camera and interventional radiology suite at Wrexham Maelor Hospital
- £2.1 million for CT simulator replacement at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
- £3.2 million for fluoroscopy and cath lab at University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff
- £3.1 million for an upgrade of MRI and fluoroscopy room, providing x-ray imaging at the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend
- £4.5 million for two replacement CT scanners at Glangwilli Hospital, in Carmarthenshire and Withybush Hospital, Pembrokeshire
- £1 million for fluoroscopy x-ray imaging and MRI upgrade at Velindre Cancer Centre, in Cardiff
- £350 thousand for four ultrasound machines at Brecon, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Welshpool hospitals
Eluned Morgan, Health Minister, commented: “It’s our priority to support the recovery of the NHS and this is a first step to ensuring the health service has access to sufficient diagnostic capacity to deal with the people waiting as a result of the pandemic.
“We aren’t out of the pandemic yet. Investing in the diagnostic national capital replacement programme and upgrading the equipment available to our incredible healthcare workforce is key to diagnosing, treating and caring for people as we move forward.
“This £25 million investment will replace ageing equipment as part of our effort to ensure the NHS can respond to demand with resilient services.”
In recent health tech news from Wales, Digital Health and Care Wales appointed a new CEO and the organisation joined us for HTN Now to share their pharmacy system implementation experience.
