Donegal Government TD Joe McHugh has welcomed a €900,000 grant approved by Minister Simon Harris to upgrade x-ray equipment at four Donegal Community Hospitals.
The new equipment will be installed in Dungloe, Killybegs, Donegal Town and Carndonagh. X-ray facilities have also been added at the Ballyshannon Health Campus.
“I’m delighted that the HSE has confirmed the funding today following a submission to the Department of Health last year,” said Minister Joe McHugh.
“I am delighted Minister Harris has agreed to the funding which has now been released.
“The community x-ray service was first developed over 30 years ago as part of a strategy to provide timely and accessible services to rural populations. The existing community x-ray facilities will now be upgraded with modern digital x-ray equipment which will be linked with Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals.
“This modern technology will take some pressure off the main university hospitals which serve the county.”
McHugh added: “This new equipment will mean these rural communities will have access to the very latest x-ray equipment which will mean they don’t have to travel to Letterkenny or Sligo for x-ray.
“The x-rays will be sent electronically to the hospitals where they will be read and reported on by Consultant Radiologists, the reports will then be sent back to the patient’s GP.”