❓ A parliamentary question regarding long wait times for PET scans in WA, specifically highlighting a breast cancer patient's case. The Minister acknowledges the issue, citing staffing shortages and increasing demand, and outlines potential solutions like upgrading equipment and considering a second machine.
AnsweredQoN 439Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the revelation last night of the plight of a young woman with breast cancer who has been told she will have to wait at least five months for a positron emission tomography, or PET, scan to locate a recurring cancer, and I ask - (1) Why has the waiting list for treatment using the PET scan been allowed to blow out to such an extent that there are now 409 patients waiting for a lifesaving scan to detect cancerous tumours? (2) Will the government immediately provide funding to allow the scanner to be operated during evenings and weekends so that a lifesaving diagnosis can be made for the 409 anxious patients on the waiting list? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(1) Why has the waiting list for treatment using the PET scan been allowed to blow out to such an extent that there are now 409 patients waiting for a lifesaving scan to detect cancerous tumours? (2) Will the government immediately provide funding to allow the scanner to be operated during evenings and weekends so that a lifesaving diagnosis can be made for the 409 anxious patients on the waiting list? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(2) Will the government immediately provide funding to allow the scanner to be operated during evenings and weekends so that a lifesaving diagnosis can be made for the 409 anxious patients on the waiting list? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(1) Why has the waiting list for treatment using the PET scan been allowed to blow out to such an extent that there are now 409 patients waiting for a lifesaving scan to detect cancerous tumours? (2) Will the government immediately provide funding to allow the scanner to be operated during evenings and weekends so that a lifesaving diagnosis can be made for the 409 anxious patients on the waiting list? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(2) Will the government immediately provide funding to allow the scanner to be operated during evenings and weekends so that a lifesaving diagnosis can be made for the 409 anxious patients on the waiting list? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
I thank the member for the question. (1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
(1)-(2) I did not see the television program last night, but I have read the transcript today to familiarise myself with what was said. The first point that needs to be made is that the PET scanner was provided for the first time in Western Australia two years ago. That technology should arguably have been provided somewhat earlier than that, but as Minister for Health I opened the state’s first public PET scanning service two years ago. Prior to that patients who required a scan were sent to the east at taxpayers’ expense. There is currently an Australian and worldwide shortage of nuclear medicine technologists. That shortage has to a degree contributed to the growth in the waitlist. As the member has said, there is an increasing demand for the PET scan and there are 409 patients on the current waitlist for the WA PET service. This again is an Australian and worldwide difficulty, as the WA service receives between 15 and 20 scan referrals each day. The commonwealth government lists 13 indications for PET scans to make them rebateable under Medicare. There are 214 rebateable cases on the WA PET service waiting list; the other 195 are discretionary. In addition to recruiting additional staff to extend the hours of operation of the PET scheme, we have given consideration to upgrading the existing technology at a cost of $1.65 million, which would increase the department’s capabilities to complete 20 scans during an eight-hour day. We are also giving consideration, as part of the capital works budget - this would cost an additional $4.5 million - to have - Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Dr K.D. Hames : When will you do that? Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : This is currently under consideration. We are also considering not only upgrading the PET scanner but also funding an additional machine so that the service would be equipped with two PET machines. The specific patient who spoke publicly about her condition last night was referred on 7 June and was given a priority of three/four; that is, where one is an urgent case. She has previously had two scans which showed her condition to be normal, and the advice that was given at a clinical level was that a PET scan would not change the management of that patient. It could be that the microscopic disease would not be picked up by the PET. Nonetheless, she has been given a date for November. However, it is my sincere hope that we will be able to deal with both the staffing and the technology issues for this very important service because of the comfort that it gives to patients and also the diagnoses that it gives to medical practitioners treating these conditions.
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