AQW 47205/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the locations of MRI scanners, including (i) the age of each scanner; (ii) the working hours of each scanner; (iii) staffing requirements; and (iv) annual downtime.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 27 May 2026
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 27 May 2026
- Answer due by
- 11 June 2026
- Answered
- 16 June 202620 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The tables below detail the location of each scanner, the age of each scanner, working hours and staffing requirements. The annual downtime will vary across the different sites due to a range of factors such as routine maintenance, faults or component failure and staff sickness.
My Department recognises the importance of increasing MRI scanning capacity and additional funding has recently been allocated to improve the waiting times for this diagnostic modality. This is already having a positive impact with total MRI waits reducing by approximately 19% over the last 12 months.
Western Trust
| Site | Scanner | Age (Years) | Operating Hours | Staffing |
| Altnagelvin Hospital | MRI | 7 | Mon–Thu 08:30–20:30; Fri 08:30–17:00; Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00 | Band 7 Radiographer + 2 Band 6 Radiographers + Assistant Out of hours Band 7 or 6 radiographer + Assistant |
| South West Acute Hospital | MRI | 3 | Mon–Thu 08:30–17:00; Fri 08:30–17:00; Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00 | Band 7 Radiographer + 2x Band 6 Radiographers + Assistant; Out of hours: Band 7 or 6 radiographer + Assistant |
| North West Cancer Centre | MRI | <1 | Tue–Fri 09:00–17:00 | Band 7 Radiographer + 2 Band 6 Radiographers + Assistant |
Southern Trust
| Site | Scanner | Age (Years) | Operating Hours | Staffing |
| Craigavon Area Hospital | MRI 1 | 2 | Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00 | 2 Radiographers + 1 assistant |
| Craigavon Area Hospital | MRI 2 | <1 | Mon–Fri 08:00–20:00; Sat–Sun 09:00–17:00 | 2 Radiographers + 1 assistant |
| South Tyrone Hospital | MRI | 1 | Temporarily Limited | 2 Radiographers + 1 assistant |
| Daisy Hill Hospital | Mobile MRI | 5 | Mon–Sun 08:00–20:00 | 2 radiographers + 1 assistant |
Northern Trust
| Site | Scanner | Age (Years) | Operating Hours | Staffing |
| Antrim Area Hospital | MRI 1 | 10 | Mon–Fri 08:30–20:00 Sat – Sun 09:00 – 17:00 | 3 Radiographers + 1 assistant (in hours) |
| Antrim Area Hospital | MRI 2 | 8 | Mon–Thu 08:30-20:00 Fri-Sat 08:30-16:30 | 3 Radiographers + 1 assistant (in hours) |
| Causeway Hospital | MRI | <1 | Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 | 3 Radiographers + 1 assistant (in hours) |
South Eastern Trust
| Site | Scanner | Age (Years) | Operating Hours | Staffing |
| Ulster Hospital | MR1 | 13 | Mon-Thu 08:00-20:20 Fri 08:50-17:00 | 2 Radiographers |
| Ulster Hospital | MR2 | 7 | Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 | 2 Radiographers |
| Ulster Hospital | MR3 | 6 | Mon-Fri 08:50-17:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-13:00 | 3 Radiographers |
Belfast Trust
| Site | Scanner | Age (Years) | Operating Hours | Staffing |
| RVH | MRI 1 | 11 | Monday to Friday 08:30-8pm, Weekends 9am-5pm | 2 radiographers Out-of-hours on-call emergency service, 1 Band 6 radiographer and 1 Assistant |
| RVH | MRI 2 | 6 | Monday to Friday 08:30-8pm, Weekends 9am-5pm | 2 radiographers |
| BCH | MRI 1 | 1 | Monday to Friday 08:30-5pm | 2 radiographers |
| BCH | MRI 2 | 2 | Monday to Friday 08:30-5pm | 2 radiographers |
| BCH | MRI 3 | 12 | Monday to Friday 08:30-8pm | 2 radiographers |
| MPH | MRI 1 | 8 | Monday to Friday 08:30-8pm, Weekends 9am-5pm | 2 radiographers |
| MPH | MRI 2 | 8 | Monday to Friday 08:30-5pm | 2 radiographers |
| MIH | MRI | 19 | Monday to Friday 08:30-8pm, Weekends 9am-5pm (limited days) | 2 radiographers |
| RBHSC | MRI | 11 | Monday to Friday 08:30-5pm | 2 radiographers |