A NEW state-of-the-art CT scanner at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank will speed up diagnostic scans and see an extra 10,500 procedures carried out at the facility this year.
The new £27 million scanner, the first of its kind in the UK, uses tablet-type technology to speed up procedures and exposes patients to lower doses of radiation.
The additional CT capacity was funded through the Scottish Government’s £850m Waiting Times Improvement Plan, and is expected to double patient turnover.
It is estimated that more than 1,300 patients will undergo examinations on the new machine before the end of March.
An extra 10,500 procedures for orthopaedic, cardiothoracic, stroke, neurological and cancer patients - including hip and knee replacements - will also take place in 2019/20.
Patients from all over Scotland can be referred to the Golden Jubilee - a former private hospital also known as the National Waiting Times Centre.
Jann Gardner, Chief Executive of the Golden Jubilee Foundation, said: “This investment is great news for patients who will be seen quicker, allowing them to receive faster diagnosis and treatment, which will help improve the health of thousands every year throughout the country.”
It comes as figures today show that almost one in 10 patients waiting for a planned operation or outpatient appointment exceeded the Scottish Government's 12-week waiting time guarantee since it came into force in March 2012.
A total of 171,480 procedures or consultations from a total of 1,835,139 took place beyond the time limit.
Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Monica Lennon MSP, said:“Every time this law is broken it leaves a patient in pain or distress as they wait to get the treatment they need.
"One of my constituents in Hamilton waited 80 weeks for an operation which is totally unacceptable."
A spokeswoman for Scottish Government said: "NHS investment and staffing are at historically high levels, and the record high inpatient satisfaction rates are a testament to the hard work of our frontline NHS staff.
“Since the introduction of our treatment time guarantee, over 1.6 million patients have been treated within the 12 week target.
"However, we recognise that people are waiting too long, which is why the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman published our £850 million Waiting Times Improvement Plan in October last year.
“The Waiting Times Improvement Plan will help increase capacity, clinical effectiveness and efficiency, and implement new models of care, while also substantially, sustainably and progressively improving waiting times by Spring 2021.
"We will continue to work with boards to ensure the additional funding available delivers the substantial and sustainable improvements needed."
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