Latest news with #CTscanners
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Airport liquid rules to be scrapped across European airports
Airports across the European Union are set to scrap the 100ml liquid restrictions for passengers. This change applies only to aviation hubs equipped with advanced computed tomography (CT) scanners, allowing liquids in containers of up to two litres. While some major airports like Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, and Milan are participating, not all, including London Heathrow, currently have the necessary technology. The new ruling could cause confusion for passengers if their departure and return airports have different scanner capabilities, as the 100ml rule would still apply for the return journey from an unequipped airport. The introduction of these scanners also means passengers will no longer have to remove items like laptops and tablets from their cabin baggage, streamlining the security process.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
Minister tells airline passengers to ‘work on the basis' that 100ml remains
Passengers preparing to fly from UK airports should assume the 100ml liquids rule remains in place unless they have been told otherwise by their airport, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. Edinburgh and Birmingham airports have become the latest to allow passengers to keep liquids in their bags when going through security, and each liquid container can be up to two litres. Large electricals, such as tablets and laptops, can also remain in bags. This is because of CT scanners which generate more detailed images of what is inside luggage. Airport security rules over liquids were implemented in 2006 following a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the US with homemade liquid bombs. This involved liquids being up to 100ml and put in clear plastic bags. Travellers failing to adhere to the rule is one of the biggest causes of delays at airport security. Ms Alexander told Times Radio: 'The rollout of this new technology, the new scanning technology, has been overseen by the individual airports themselves. 'They have different contracts in place, different providers. 'We have a situation in Edinburgh and Birmingham where they've got the new technology in place now and so are allowing people who are travelling to take liquids in containers up to two litres through with them. 'At all other airports the 100ml rule stays in place. 'From my perspective, if we can give some flexibility to passengers that are travelling from airports where the technology is in place, I think it would be wrong to insist that everyone should travel with the 100ml.' She added: 'You should work on the basis that it is 100ml at the moment unless you have heard from your airport otherwise. 'And I always advise people to check in with their airlines and their airports before travelling. 'And I'm hopeful that we get to a point where all airports have this new technology in place soon so that everyone can have that extra added flexibility when they're travelling.' A deadline of December 2022 for most major airports to deploy new scanners was initially set in August 2019 by then-prime minister Boris Johnson. After the aviation industry suffered huge disruption due to coronavirus travel restrictions, in December 2022 then-transport secretary Mark Harper set a new date of June 1 2024. Several airports struggling to meet the deadline – largely because of supply chain delays – were granted extensions in April last year. Two months later, the 100ml limit was reimposed at airports that were complaint because of concerns about how the machines were working. Several airports such as Gatwick, London City, Luton and Teesside allow passengers to keep liquids in bags, but only in containers holding up to 100ml each. Birmingham installed its new scanners last summer, but retained the 100ml liquids rule until regulatory approval was granted. Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, said the vast majority of its passengers are using new security lanes, and it is working with the Government to complete the rollout. It advises passengers to prepare for the 100ml rule to be in place for their flight. A Birmingham airport spokesperson said: 'This change will enable a faster and more efficient processing of hand luggage, following the £60 million investment in equipment and infrastructure made last year. 'We are pleased passengers can now benefit from this change in ruling, made by the Government in time for the summer peak.' Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh airport, said: 'A whole generation of travellers have only known the 100ml rule to be the case, so it really is a momentous day as we become the first airport in Scotland to lift the rule since it was introduced in 2006. 'The change allows more flexibility for passengers to take liquids through security, all while maintaining and improving our high safety levels through the use of 3D technology.'
RNZ News
05-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
New CT scanners bring mixed blessings for Palmerston North Hospital
Palmerston North Hospital currently relies on a single loaned CT scanner with limited capability. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham An announcement that Palmerston North Hospital will get two new CT scanners comes as medical unions warn the government of a dire shortage in radiographers nationwide. Radiographers are the medical-imaging technologists who, together with radiologists, read CT and MRI (whole-body) scans to diagnose and treat patients with injuries and serious diseases, like cancer. On Saturday afternoon, Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the $12.7 million investment for Palmerston North hospital, saying it would "double scanning capacity and significantly improve access to diagnostic services across the region". "This is a major step forward for Palmerston North and the surrounding communities," he said. "It means faster diagnoses, shorter wait times and earlier treatment for people with serious conditions like cancer." The two new scanners would replace one ageing machine and the second would expand the hospital's capacity by about 3000 extra scans per year. "Doubling CT capacity means more timely scans and less stress for patients, with workforce planning already underway to support the expanded diagnostic service," Brown said. The hospital currently relied on a single loaned CT scanner with limited capability, which contributed to delays in emergency, inpatient, and elective care. "In some cases, patients must be transferred to other hospitals or private providers for scans," Brown said. "With greater scanning capacity, we'll ease pressure across the system - reducing ED delays, supporting planned surgeries and enabling faster diagnoses for time-critical conditions. "It will also reduce the need to outsource scans, ensuring patients are seen sooner and closer to home." The modular CT unit would begin operation in February and provide care for up to eight years, while a permanent imaging hub was developed as part of the hospital's wider redevelopment. Allied Scientific and Technical Health Practitioners union (Apex) national secretary Dr Deborah Powell said the new machinery would be well-received. Health Minister Simeon Brown announced the new $12.7m investment on Saturday. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER "The current CT scanner in Palmerston [North] is very old and breaks down frequently," she said. "Quite frankly, they're holding it together with band aids, so we certainly needed the replacement. "A second one obviously will help us put patients through more quickly, that's including guys in ED, as well as cancer treatment and other acute presentations. "That's good news for the people of that region. The one questions we would have is where's the workforce to run it?" Powell said New Zealand was desperately short of radiographers to operate the scanners. "They don't grow on trees, so I'd be delighted to see the minister's plan. I'm not aware that Te Whatu Ora has a workforce plan for the radiology services. "They acknowledge we do have a workforce crisis, but a plan to fix it has been a bit elusive to this point in time." Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said the senior doctors' union and Apex only asked about radiology planning nationally last week. "Particularly staffing, because there are significant gaps." She said there were "significant issues around radiology staffing at Palmerston North", and the unions had called for reporting of national workforce planning and regional situations, which they were still waiting for. "While resource being put into new machinery is really important and we would welcome that, without appropriate levels of staffing, it is not going to be a simple fix." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
