The HSE Mid West has defended the temporary suspension of CAT scan services at Ennis General stating it was in the best interest of patient safety.
The action was taken after the long term radiologist at Clare’s County Hospital left to take up employment elsewhere.
The long awaited CT scanning service was finally set up at Ennis General last July three years after it was first approved by the National Hospitals Office.
However just three months later patients in Clare now requiring the procedure are being sent to Limerick.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the HSE Mid West said the service at the County Hospital was suspended short term after the temporary radiologist at Ennis General left.
The statement goes on to state that the move was in the best interest of patient safety and lessons learned in Clare are that you don’t engage in diagnostics of this nature without the required clinical skills being available.
The HSE spokesperson added that an active recruitment campaign is underway at national and international level, against a background of a shortage of qualified specialists, for a temporary Consultant Radiologist, pending a permanent appointment in November 2009.
