To ask the Minister of Health to outline his Department's policies and protocols regarding the decommissioning of diagnostic imaging scanners, including MRI, CT, X-ray, and ultrasound equipment.

My Department established the Regional Medical Imaging Board to oversee the recommendations arising from the Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care, 2018. The Board monitors the use, configuration and age of imaging equipment across all imaging services in Health and Social Care and has developed a system for prioritising the replacement of equipment and the procurement of additional equipment in line with population needs and available budget.

Decommissioning of aged equipment is undertaken by each Health and Social Trust in accordance with their local governance processes, assisted by expert advice from medical physics.