In a bid to alleviate the demand for MRI scans, Luxembourg's four hospitals introduced weekend appointment slots in the spring. However, the anticipated reduction in waiting times has not materialised as expected.

Dr Marc Berna, Director General of Hôpitaux Robert Schuman and administrator of the Federation of Luxembourg Hospitals (FHL), notes that the new weekend slots have been consistently busy across all hospitals. This heightened demand has resulted in a significant uptick in the number of MRI examinations conducted.

4,000 more MRI examinations, but no effect on waiting times

At the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL), an additional 4,000 MRI examinations have been carried out compared to the same period last year, thanks to the expanded availability, including the MRI scanner in Potaschberg/Grevenmacher, operated in collaboration with CHL since January.

However, despite the increased capacity, there has been no discernible decrease in waiting times at the CHL. Dr Martine Goergen, the hospital's medical director, remarks, "the greater the supply, the greater the demand." For non-emergency appointments, patients still face waiting times ranging from 30 to 50 days at the CHL.

Emergencies

The Centre Hospitalier Émile Mayrisch (CHEM) in Esch-sur-Alzette has introduced weekend MRI appointment options since June, extending the availability by 30 appointments per week. Despite this effort to meet patient demands, waiting times for non-urgent MRI examinations have seen mixed results, with some experiencing reduced wait times, while others have seen slight increases. General Director Dr René Metz acknowledges the challenges in managing waiting times but emphasises the focus on ensuring the timely examination of truly urgent cases.

Dr Metz outlines different urgency levels for MRI appointments, ranging from patients requiring assessment within 12 hours to those needing an MRI within three days. He assures that these timeframes are met at CHEM, with attention to varying degrees of urgency. The CHL also takes into account the different urgency levels.

Dr Berna supports the added MRI appointment slots, noting that approximately one-third of weekend appointments serve patients who urgently needed an appointment.

Currently twelve MRI scanners in the country

Over the past five years, Luxembourg's hospital infrastructure has seen an increase in MRI scanners, growing from seven to twelve. With the upcoming addition of a third machine at the Centre Hospitalier du Nord (CHdN), the country will soon have a total of 13 MRI scanners. The CHL also has plans to introduce another MRI scanner at its clinic in Eich.

Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)