NHS criticised over ‘wasteful’ approach to hi-tech equipment

The use of expensive equipment in the NHS is failing to give taxpayers value for money, MPs have claimed.

A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticised the health service for the inefficient way it purchases and uses hi-tech apparatus such as scanners and radiotherapy equipment.

According to the committee, which previously slammed the NHS for its handling of the electronic care records project, the total value of such machines in English hospitals stands at approximately £1 billion.

The PAC suggested the decision to hand the management of important equipment over to individual trusts has led to inefficiencies, while also highlighting wide variations in how effectively the machines are used.

"We were shocked by the unacceptable response times for certain conditions," said committee chair Margaret Hodge.

"A modern NHS should not allow 50 percent of people who have a stroke to wait more than 24 hours for a scan."

The Department of Health has been urged to consider ways of using the equipment with greater efficiency.