Deputy Pearse Doherty said the unavailability of MRI scanning facilities at Letterkenny University Hospital during the weekend period is ‘extremely concerning.’
He is calling on the Minister for Health to take action to ensure that Radiographers remain on call on Saturdays and Sundays.
Deputy Doherty’s comments come following the disclosure of figures requested from the HSE detailing both staffing rotas and access hours for radiology services at the Hospital.
The data reveals that no MRI service is in place for patients at Letterkenny from 5pm on Fridays and right throughout the weekend.
Deputy Doherty said “Following having received complaints from a number of constituents about them having been unable to access radiology facilities at Letterkenny hospital over weekends, I brought the matter to the attention of the Minister and I requested a detailed breakdown of staffing arrangements and hours of access to Xray, CT Ultrasound and MRI services at the hospital.
“I’ve now received this data from the HSE and the staffing roster confirms that no MRI service is in place for patients in Letterkenny from Friday evenings, nor on either Saturdays or Sundays.
“This is obviously extremely concerning considering the importance of MRI scans in helping to diagnose or monitor treatment for a variety of conditions in patients as the technology can provide physicians with extremely detailed images such as for the detection of tumors, certain diseases or other abnormalities which may be present in the body.
“Clearly, the absence of a dedicated MRI service for patients during the weekend period is not acceptable and this issue must be addressed and the Minister must take responsibility here for what is a serious failing in what is our largest acute public hospital locally.
“I will now be bringing this matter to the attention of the Minister and I will be asking him to outline what action he will now take to ensure that radiology services for patients are not out of action for such lengthy periods including weekends when patients need to access what can often be life-saving facilities.”
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