Nenagh scanner stalled

Attempts to get a new €1m CT scanner operational in Nenagh Hospital have met with a ‘stone wall’ approach by the hospital because of the HSE’s national recruitment freeze.
The scanner has not been used since it was installed in June, 2007. “What the HSE are saying locally is that their hands have been tied at national level, with regard to appointments,” Mr Ger Kennedy, SIPTU’s Branch Organiser in Nenagh said. “We have had discussions in relation to the filling of posts in the hospital and we have encountered no flexibility. Management are saying they cannot take on any staff,” said Mr Kennedy.

Six additional staff are required to initiate the CT scanning service at Nenagh General Hospital. Local Labour Senator Alan Kelly said the failure to operate the machine was ‘a complete embarrassment’ for the HSE and local government representatives Marie Hoctor and Michael Lowry.
“The Nenagh Hospital manager Mr Frank Keane has been told he must finance the people to operate the CT scanner from current funds. That is impossible for him,” Senator Kelly said.
Currently an average of ten patients per week have to travel from North Tipperary to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick to get CT scans.
The extra cost of hiring in a private ambulance and nurse can be up to €748 per patient on average. “The manager of the hospital finds the whole situation crazy,” said Mr Kelly. “He has been trying to get the funding but this year Nenagh Hospital got one of lowest Budget allocations in the country.”