Revolutionary scanner

A NEW x-ray scanner that cuts radioactive emissions by up to 85% is being used for the first time in a Spanish public hospital.

of Health Directors, Jon Guajardo.

The differences in absenteeism between regions range from the lowest range from 2% through 10% in the highest, which include Aragon and Murcia, though those are said to be approximate ‘internal estimates’. Andalucia saw 3.3 million consultations (7.2% of its total) missed with the family doctor and 643,000 pediatric appointments (9.6%) also missed.

The Valencian Community said no-shows for family medicine appointments stood at 3.8% of all bookings but gave no figures for pediatricians.

Percentages in the Balearic Islands were 4.7% for doctors and 4.6% for pediatricians.

HIGH-TEC: The new scanner

The unit costing €720,000 has been installed at Valencia's Doctor Peset University Hospital and operates vertically which means fullbody x-rays are conducted while patients stand. It will be used for the treatment and planning of surgeries in adults and children with musculo-skeletal problems involving mainly the spine, hip, knee and ankle.

The Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians(SEMG) has investigated the no-shows via a survey based on a small sample of patients. They say that two-thirds of males make up non-appearances along with people aged 65 and under- mostly prompted by work reasons.