STATE-of-the-art equipment should not be lying idle while patients in Bolton wait 12 months for a scan, the House of Commons was told yesterday.

Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South-east, complained that a shortage of staff meant a £700,000 whole body scanner could only be used for six half-day sessions a week.

It was revealed earlier this year that Bolton is one of five hospitals in the UK where patients have to wait 12 months or more for MRI scans, which detect cancers.

Hospital chiefs say the cost of buying more time from consultants to read the images from the scans is not in their budget at a time when they are struggling with finances.

The length of time patients have to wait has also been criticised in a national report by the Dr Foster organisation, an independent body which evaluates health care providers.

Dr Iddon asked Government Health Secretary Dr John Reid what he was doing to ensure staff are available to man the scanners.

He said: "All hospital departments should be given adequate funding for basic requirements such as staff to use the equipment and that more staff are trained to use the new scanners."

Mr Reid replied that the Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust's budget has increased from £108 million to £130 million since 1999.

He also said that two new scanners would be delivered to the Trust in the next couple of years.

But he admitted the NHS was finding it difficult to employ radiologists.

A hospital spokesman said: "If we did have further funding we would be able to use it for more staff for the scanner."

"As to the scanners themselves, Dr Iddon will be aware that one MRI scanner was delivered last year and I believe that two CT scanners are scheduled to be delivered in the next couple of years."