Expensive CT scanner is only being used for 15 hours a week
AN EXPENSIVE scanner at a regional hospital is only being used for 15 hours a week, leading to claims that it is being hugely under-utilised at a time of chronic overcrowding.
The computed tomography (CT) scanner in Ennis Hospital is only being used for three hours, five days a week, according to local independent TD Dr Michael Harty.
He criticised the situation especially given the regular pressures on the new €24m emergency department at University Hospital Limerick.
“In Ennis, the theatre is idle for in excess of 50pc of the time it is manned. The CT scanner there is operated for three hours per day on a five-day-week basis. Therefore, it is operated for 15 hours per week. It does not work at weekends. This is a complete waste of resources,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Harty also raised the issue of the threatened closure of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) at Ennis Hospital at weekends, saying a possible reduction in service was “more to do with medical politics than the delivery of care to patients”.
While the UL Hospitals Group said no final decision had been made to reduce the opening times of the MAU, Dr Harty claimed hospital staff were informed last week that the MAU would revert to a five-day service in the near future.
UL Hospitals Group said it regularly undertakes reviews of services provided across all hospital sites to ensure they are fit for purpose, address a specific patient need, and are the best use of finite resources.
“A review is being carried out into the weekend opening of the Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis Hospital. However, no decision has been made at this time,” said a spokesperson.
Fine Gael TD Joe Carey accused Dr Harty of “scaremongering” and said the group planned substantial investments in services at the hospital.