PARCA eNews – June 25, 2015 – A United Kingdom national survey by the National Health Service Clinical Imaging Board (CIB) shows that around 40 percent of CT scanners in use have no funded replacement plans in place.
The research also revealed that more than 1 in 10 NHS organizations responding to the survey said that their CT machines did not have the necessary technology to use of “radiation dose reduction” technologies that is available in newer CT scanners.
“The average CT scanner is five years old, but there are no funded replacement plans in place for 40 percent of those scanners," Professor Stephen Keevil, current Chair of the Clinical Imaging Board said in a press release. "This is very concerning as replacing high-value equipment is complex. The NHS needs to be planning well in advance.”
The CIB comprises the Society and College of Radiographers, the Royal College of Radiologists and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. The survey invited feedback from 183 radiology departments in the UK, with a two thirds response.
There were 117 responses,
giving information about 298 CT scanners. A total of 208 machines were owned by
the NHS, 30 were leased, 54 obtained as part of a managed equipment service,
and there were six "don't know" responses. The average age of CT
equipment was 4.8 years, with more than 10 percent of CT equipment being 10 years old or older and did not
having dose optimization capability.
To read the full report, click here.
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