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| Isotope shortage may delay scans | Isotope shortage may delay scans |
| (2 days later) | |
| Hundreds of important NHS hospital tests could be put on hold due to a worldwide shortage of a radioactive isotope, doctors have warned. | Hundreds of important NHS hospital tests could be put on hold due to a worldwide shortage of a radioactive isotope, doctors have warned. |
| Three of the five reactors which produce molybdenum-99 have been shut down, severely reducing the amount available. | Three of the five reactors which produce molybdenum-99 have been shut down, severely reducing the amount available. |
| Specialists said urgent tests would have to be prioritised. | |
| However, they are concerned that waiting time targets in England may interfere with their planning. | However, they are concerned that waiting time targets in England may interfere with their planning. |
| The problem is likely to continue until the end of September at least. | The problem is likely to continue until the end of September at least. |
| It is likely to get worse before it gets better Professor Alan PerkinsBritish Nuclear Medicine Society | It is likely to get worse before it gets better Professor Alan PerkinsBritish Nuclear Medicine Society |
| A wide variety of tests, such as heart and kidney function tests and bone scans (including those looking for tumours), involve the injecting of dyes which use molybdenum-99. | |
| It is produced from uranium using a nuclear reactor and, as it has a half-life of less than three days, it cannot be stockpiled but has to be transported and used as soon as it is produced. | It is produced from uranium using a nuclear reactor and, as it has a half-life of less than three days, it cannot be stockpiled but has to be transported and used as soon as it is produced. |
| There are three commercial reactors in Europe which produce the isotope and all of them are currently closed - two for planned maintenance, and the other because of an unexpected problem. | There are three commercial reactors in Europe which produce the isotope and all of them are currently closed - two for planned maintenance, and the other because of an unexpected problem. |
| Since last weekend, the NHS has been receiving approximately half its normal supply, and this is expected to dwindle further in the weeks to come. | Since last weekend, the NHS has been receiving approximately half its normal supply, and this is expected to dwindle further in the weeks to come. |
| Six week worry | Six week worry |
| Professor Alan Perkins, the honorary secretary of the Sydenham-based British Nuclear Medicine Society, said that while most tests could be delayed for a short time, others needed to be carried out within days and hospitals would have to prioritise patients accordingly. | Professor Alan Perkins, the honorary secretary of the Sydenham-based British Nuclear Medicine Society, said that while most tests could be delayed for a short time, others needed to be carried out within days and hospitals would have to prioritise patients accordingly. |
| In England, hospitals are expected to provide tests for patients inside six weeks and Prof Perkins said he feared that a non-urgent patient approaching that deadline might be given priority instead of one with an immediate need. | In England, hospitals are expected to provide tests for patients inside six weeks and Prof Perkins said he feared that a non-urgent patient approaching that deadline might be given priority instead of one with an immediate need. |
| He said: "It is likely to get worse before it gets better. In some cases patients can be given a different kind of investigation, such as an MRI scan. | He said: "It is likely to get worse before it gets better. In some cases patients can be given a different kind of investigation, such as an MRI scan. |
| "However, patients will need to be prioritised in terms of clinical needs and we are concerned that in some cases there will be pressure to meet waiting targets - which could prevent this happening. | "However, patients will need to be prioritised in terms of clinical needs and we are concerned that in some cases there will be pressure to meet waiting targets - which could prevent this happening. |
| "Some people have already contacted us to say that this has been the outcome." | "Some people have already contacted us to say that this has been the outcome." |
| Other parts of the UK do not have the six-week testing target. | Other parts of the UK do not have the six-week testing target. |
| Urgent priority | Urgent priority |
| This is not the first time that supplies have been hit by a reactor shutdown - a stoppage at a Canadian reactor last year delayed thousands of tests. | This is not the first time that supplies have been hit by a reactor shutdown - a stoppage at a Canadian reactor last year delayed thousands of tests. |
| In the long term, Professor Perkins said, the UK should consider investing in a new reactor to help reduce its reliance on ageing facilities in other countries. | In the long term, Professor Perkins said, the UK should consider investing in a new reactor to help reduce its reliance on ageing facilities in other countries. |
| A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was aware of the problem and that hospitals would be taking steps to cope with it. | A spokesman for the Department of Health said it was aware of the problem and that hospitals would be taking steps to cope with it. |
| "The impact will vary from trust to trust, depending largely on the test being carried out, how urgent it is, and of course the flow of supply. | "The impact will vary from trust to trust, depending largely on the test being carried out, how urgent it is, and of course the flow of supply. |
| "Urgent patients will continue to be prioritised. Routine patients may need to wait a little longer until supply comes back on-line." | "Urgent patients will continue to be prioritised. Routine patients may need to wait a little longer until supply comes back on-line." |