CT scans rocks while patients wait

Scotland on Sunday can reveal Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has been hiring out its computed tomography (CT) scanners and staff to oil firms so they can take three-dimensional images of rock core samples.

NHS Grampian admitted they have leased scanners to several un-named oil firms since 2003 while patients at the hospital currently wait four weeks for a CT scan. It is believed the hospital charges at least 300 a session.

The machines are provided so doctors can look for tumours, spinal injuries and tissue damage in patients that normal X-rays cannot detect.

Although the hospital is inside the nine-week waiting time target set by the Scottish Executive, the non-medical use of the expensive scanners has infuriated patients and politicians.

They claim that neither staff nor machines - which can cost up to 1m each - should be used to do private work before NHS waiting lists have been cleared.

CT scans of rock core samples are used by the oil industry to distinguish between changes in density in rock and clearly identify oil in porous sections.

NHS Grampian, which recently announced it would have to make 20m of spending cuts, provides oil firms with a radiographer to operate the scanner.

A spokeswoman said: "The arrangement with companies in the oil and gas sector wishing to obtain CT scans of rock core samples is a private one.

"We have two CT scanners at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and this work is done outwith normal working hours. It has no effect on patient care, and in any emergency out of normal hours a patient would always get priority.

"The remuneration we receive from the companies pays the radiographers and makes a small contribution to overheads within the radiology department."

But using medical equipment to examine samples of rock has angered radiologists who believe spare capacity should be used to deal with patients.

"In some board areas scanners are not being funded to operate on full capacity and so the machines are sitting idle from lack of resources," said Dr David Nichols, Scottish secretary of the Royal College of Radiologists.

"If flexible working and adequate money was put in, then operation times could be extended until 8pm and also on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

"That would have a massive impact in bringing waiting times down."

Patients' organisations said it was unacceptable for patients to have to wait months to be seen when scanners were available.

"Making them wait for even a few weeks adds terribly to their anxiety and can seriously affect their quality of life," said Katherine Murphy, from the Patients' Association. "The priority should be to use the resources available to their fullest and prioritise their use."

SNP shadow health minister Shona Robison said: "The scanners in NHS hospitals are publicly funded pieces of equipment. We need to get these scanners working more of the time so NHS patients can get the treatment they deserve rather than using private companies to reduce waiting times.

"If it is possible for staff to do these private sessions, then it is possible for them to spend more time treating NHS patients."