West Of Ireland “Forgotten” By Health Minister And HSE

Photo (c) ClareFM

Concern is being expressed that the west of Ireland is being forgotten about by the Minister for Health and the HSE.

It comes as it’s emerged that out-of-date equipment is still being used at University Hospital Limerick, and that management at the hospital were unsuccessful in applications for funding to replace it.

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CEO of the UL Hospitals Group Colette Cowan has written to Clare County Council in response to a motion in which some local representatives expressed concern about a lack of basic diagnostic equipment at UHL.

In her letter, Ms Cowan outlines that €163,000 was allocated to the hospital last year through the near-€40 million National Equipment Replacement Programme.

Despite this though, she also reveals that much of their equipment which is still in use is outdated – including two of the three CT scanners.

In the letter, she also describes one of their two MRI scanners as old, but working reliably.

Other issues are also highlighted, and in most cases, the UL Hospitals Group has sought funding to replace the outdated machines.

Newmarket-on-Fergus Fianna Fáil Councillor Pat McMahon says this situation on Health Minister Simon Harris’ head.

Meanwhile, a Clare member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West is expressing concern that the west of Ireland has been forgotten about by health authorities.

Inagh Green Party Councillor Róisín Garvey, who is a general election candidate for her party, is labelling it “backward”.

Clare FM has contacted the UL Hospitals Group and the HSE for comment on the matter.