– did BBC Scotland report this?

By stewartb

I’m grateful this week to the P&J for reporting a significant Scottish Government investment of benefit to the residents of the Western Isles.

This was the P&J’s headline: ‘First-ever MRI scanner to be installed at NHS Western Isles hospital – the new scanning service would save 1,100 patients from the Western Isles travelling to the mainland for scans each year.’

It explained: ‘NHS Western Isles is planning to install the MRI facility at the hospital in Stornoway following £2.4 million funding from the Scottish Government.’

The article gives further details (with my emphasis): ‘Medical director Frank McAuley said: “The reality of an MRI scanner based at Western Isles Hospital offers huge improvements in patient pathways, including those involving cancer or neurological conditions.

“Reduced reliance on mainland resources will impact patient travel requirements, an issue causing an increased impact on all involved. Excellent news.”

‘In a joint statement, NHS Western Isles chair, Gillian McCannon, and chief executive, Gordon Jamieson, said: “Having an MRI scanning service has been an aspiration of NHS Western Isles for many years and the fact that this funding has now been approved is wonderful news for our population.

“Introducing MRI scanning to our services will positively transform the patient experience, meaning that significant numbers of patients will no longer have to travel to the mainland and endure extended overnight stays for this important investigation.

“Having a scanner on-island will also help us to reduce diagnostic waiting times with the scanner available for planned and urgent care patients. In addition to the direct clinical management benefits, we will also reduce travel costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

“Looking to the future having this modern piece of equipment will help boost the recruitment and retention of clinical staff to the Western Isles; a vital step to ensure the sustainability of Western Isles services.”

Source: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/5985178/western-isles-mri/   

The Stornoway Gazette covered the story on 27 July and quoted the Public Health Minister, Jenni Minto: “An MRI scanner for the Western Isles will ensure that patients are able to receive more diagnostic tests on the islands, and can therefore avoid travelling to the mainland. The scanner will also help clinical teams diagnose and treat the cause of patients’ symptoms faster and get them the care and treatment they need earlier.”

‘The current combined annual costs related to scanning, which takes into account contracts with other Health Boards and patient travel and expenses, equates to £1 million and the new service will cost approximately £300,000 less than the current arrangement.’

A genuine question!

TuS readers will note the multiple topical issues linked to this story: Scottish Government’s relationship with island communities; quality of public services for island communities; reliance on ferries to access mainland services; reducing NHS waits and earlier diagnosis etc.

I came across the press coverage by chance. Noting the topicality of the issues, I decided to look at how the story was being covered by the media organisation that has majored on ‘ferries’, on the Western Isles and on NHS Scotland’s services on a weekly basis over many, many months. That organisation is of course BBC Scotland.

I searched carefully for this story on the BBC News website. I found nothing. Perhaps I’ve missed something; perhaps it was covered on radio of TV? So a genuine question: did BBC Scotland report this? Anyone?

Newsworthiness?

Perhaps it just wasn’t regarded as sufficiently newsworthy by BBC Scotland.

Although my search of the BBC News website drew a blank regarding this ‘wonderful news’ for the people of the Western Isles, I did come across the following:

On the BBC News website on 6 February 2013, this headline: ‘Hundreds affected by MRI scanner upgrade at Isle of Man hospital.‘

On the BBC News website on 1 September 2020, this headline: ‘New Isle of Man MRI scanner to reduce UK hospital trips.’ We learn that a new scanner had been purchased for a hospital on the island: ’Money to purchase the (£1.2m) equipment was provided by the Henry Bloom Noble’s Trust.’

On the BBC News website on 16 October, 2020, this headline: ‘New CT scanners ‘massive boost’ for Manx hospital, says minister’.

And for completeness, back on 16 January 2020 the BBC Scotland programme The Nine had a feature with this quote from a resident of Shetland: “I have to get a car, a boat, a plane and a bus just to get an MRI scan” and made the observation ‘Imagine having to travel hundreds of miles, across land and sea, to get an MRI scan.’  This was sufficiently newsworthy that: ’The Nine’s Hazel Martin has been to Shetland to meet local people affected.’

Surely it couldn’t be the case that investment in medical technology for an island community IS regarded as newsworthy by the BBC ONLY when it’s for a hospital on the Isle of Man and ONLY when it’s there is a complaint about lack of provision on a Scottish island? A public service organisation would surely show more objectivity and balance!

To repeat, I’m happy to be proven wrong, to be informed that BBC Scotland did cover this even if not on the BBC News website. It certainly should have done given the direct relevance to its longstanding focus on matters impacting the Western Isles!