To ask the Minister of Health to outline (i) whether diagnostic scanners are routinely replaced following decommissioning or obsolescence; and (ii) what mechanisms are in place to ensure continuity of service.

I can confirm that the vast majority of scanners are routinely replaced following decommissioning or obsolescence and would refer you to my response to AQW 27003/22-27 which includes full breakdown of various scanners replaced within each Health and Social Care Trust over the last 10 years.

Continuity of service is managed by each Trust in accordance with local governance processes. Items of equipment which are forecast to affect service continuity can be brought to the attention of the Regional Medical Imaging Board’s Capital Equipment Sub-group, which has a system in place for prioritising the replacement of equipment and the procurement of additional equipment in line with population needs and available budget.