Medical imaging sessions at Mater Dei Hospital would be extended to the early hours to help reduce the backlog, Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia announced yesterday.

Addressing the third annual medical imaging seminar, he said that last year twilight sessions took 800 patients off waiting lists. “Yes, we received comments from patients who found the hours strange but this is definitely better than remaining on a list,” he said.

Dr Farrugia said 139,500 scans were carried out last year, an increase of 400 over 2012.

“We are receiving a lot of requests for scans. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but one must ask whether all of them are really necessary,” he said.

Dr Farrugia said the requests for images were spread evenly across the island’s centres with the largest increase coming from the Mosta health centre.

Why not send patients to Gozo for scans if these can be done sooner?

The high demand last year resulted in bottlenecks to the system, with the number of MRI requests reaching capacity by March. Dr Farrugia said he would be combating this by utilising resources in the Gozo hospital too.

“In Malta, if you need a scan you have to wait; in Gozo you don’t. Why not send patients to Gozo for scans if these can be done sooner,” he asked.

Last year, 300 patients were struck off the waiting list after being sent to Gozo for scans.

Dr Farrugia also announced the purchase of new equipment, including digital x-ray machines, MRIs and two linear accelerators, to be used at the new oncology centre.

There would also be an increase in human resources, he said, adding that the reshuffling of courses would result in six new radiographers this year.

There would also be an increase in the number of students accepted into diagnostics and radiography courses.