GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR NEW GAMMA CAMERA AT TRELISKE

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Board has approved the purchase of a new Gamma Camera at Treliske, following a successful bid to government for capital funding.

The new camera will replace an existing camera, which is at the end of its life and will bring 'significant benefits' to patients at RCHT. Without the new camera, more patients would have to travel to Plymouth or even further afield.

Jude Robinson, Labour's candidate for Camborne, Redruth & Hayle said:

" I am constantly amazed at the fantastic range of high tech diagnostic and treatment facilities we have on our doorstep in Cornwall. This will replace the old camera with better technology and provide improved services at Treliske, in line with government and RCHT commitment to deliver better healthcare as locally as possible."

The new camera will need an extension to house it and the total capital cost will be £1.26 million. Money for the replacement will come from a successful bid to government for £7.7 million for additional capital under the financially challenged trust (FCT) programme.

By 2010 - 11 healthcare funding in Cornwall will have almost quadrupled since Labour took office.

Notes

RCHT was designated a 'financially challenged trust' due to its outstanding deficit, although that has now been resolved in an agreement with the Strategic Health Authority. The trust has committed to make a surplus of £8.25 million this year as part of the agreement.

More information on the Board decision at http://tinyurl.com/yksjxcy

Nuclear medicine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nuclear medicine is a branch or specialty of medicine and medical imaging that uses radioactive isotopes (radionuclides) and relies on the process of radioactive decay in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. In nuclear medicine procedures, radionuclides are combined with other chemical compounds orpharmaceuticals to form radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals, once administered to the patient, can localize to specific organs or cellular receptors. This unique ability of radiopharmaceticals allow nuclear medicine to diagnose or treat a disease based on the cellular function and physiology rather than relying on the anatomy.

Hansard 17/06/09 Minister for Health Mike O'Brien

"The NHS has benefited from an unprecedented growth in finance. When the Government first came to power, health spending was just £426 per head. In 2010-11, it will be £1,612. In 2009-10 and 2010-11, primary care trusts will be allocated £164 billion. That means that, on average, PCTs will receive an increase of more than 11 per cent.—actually, 11.3 per cent.—or an extra £8.6 billion. The people who are best placed to make decisions are those closest to it, and more than 80 per cent. of the entire NHS budget is now in the hands of local PCTs—a higher proportion than ever before, under any Government."

"The PCT funding allocation for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is £808.4 million for this financial year and £856.2 million for 2010-11; in 2006, it received £1,227 per head and it received £1,488 per head this financial year. Furthermore, it will receive £1,558 per head next year."