The areas to receive 13 new bone scanners, expected to deliver an additional 29,000 scans each year, have been announced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).
The equipment had been promised as part of the government’s elective reform plan earlier this year. Yesterday, DHSC announced the 13 areas in England that would receive the new DEXA scanners. (see box)
Seven of the new machines will enable trusts to offer new or extended DEXA services, improving access and reducing patient journey times.
The remaining six bone scanners will replace existing machines, helping to increase the reliability of bone diagnostic services.
The bone scanners will help with early diagnosis of illness such as osteoporosis because of advanced technology that means the quality of a patient’s bones can be identified with minute detail.
Sue Mann, clinical lead for women’s health at NHS England, said the new bone scanners were a ‘welcome targeted investment’ for the NHS trusts set to receive them.
‘They measure tiny reductions in bone density that can help us diagnose osteoporosis in its early stages, before you break a bone.
‘These scanners are key tools for prevention, particularly for some women who are known to be at higher risk of osteoporosis such as those who go through early menopause,’ she said.
More than one in three women and one in five men will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis in their lifetime.
Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, described the new bone scanners as ‘really good news for people with osteoporosis’.
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, welcomed the announcement but said more investment was needed.
He said that the capital funding boost announced in the last Budget was ‘a major first step to improving the outdated infrastructure and shortage of diagnostic equipment caused by a decade of underinvestment’.
But it was ‘still at least £3.3bn a year short of what NHS leaders say is needed’, he said.
‘That is why we hope the government will use next month’s Spending Review to increase NHS capital investment and that the forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy will open up much needed new routes for mutual investment from the private sector,’ said Mr Taylor.
New bone scanner locations
The following locations will receive new scanners:
- Harefield Hospital (Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust)
- North Middlesex Hospital (North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust)
- Newark Hospital (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation NHS Trust)
- Royal Victoria Infirmary (The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
- Ellesmere Port Community Diagnostic Centre (Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation NHS Trust)
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Cranleigh Village Hospital (Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
The following locations will receive replacement scanners:
- Leeds General Infirmary (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
- Wharfedale General Hospital (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)
- Dewsbury Hospital (Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust)
- Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust)
- Salford Royal (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust)
- St Catherine’s Hospital (Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust)
Source: DHSC
