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HSE BEANCOUNTERS PULL X-RAY ROOM DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING - NASH

10 December 2018

In a reply to a question from Labour Senator Ged Nash, the RCSI Hospital Group and the Minister for Health has confirmed that the planned second x-ray room for the expanded Lourdes Hospital Emergency Department has been pulled due to a lack of funding.
Money was allocated for the room in the original plans.
Senator Nash said;
“I first raised this issue a number of weeks ago. The authorities have now confirmed to me that the original plans for a new x-ray room to support the new ED extension has been withdrawn because the HSE does not have the money.
“It’s a disgrace that the money was originally allocated to the project and then was withdrawn suddenly.
“I worked hard to secure the money for the new ED and the 82 new beds when I was a Minister, money which was provided by the last government.
“The abandonment of the second x-ray room will seriously hamper the ability of the hospital to deal with the additional throughput of patients through the extended ED causing blockages in the system and delays in patient care.
“This new room will cost in the region of €1million. I am calling on the HSE and the Minister to review this ridiculous decision immediately.”

(See PQ reply below).   6th December, 2018 Re: Parliamentary Question 48670/18 To ask the Minister for Health if the HSE will develop a second x-ray room to support the expanded emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; when the second room will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter.” Dear Senator Nash
 The RCSI Hospital Group has been requested to reply directly to you in the context of the above Parliamentary Question, which you submitted to the Minister for Health for response. I have examined the matter and the following outlines the position. Macro Development: -       Ward 1 (29 beds) opened 5 Dec 2017-       Ward 2 (29 beds) opening Jan 2019-       Ward 3 (24 beds) planned opening Q2 2019-       Theatres (3) opening Q2  2019-       ED Expansion planned opening Jan 2019 Within the plans for the original extension to the Emergency Department, there was an initial provision made for a second radiology room.   On 18.10.2018, HSE Estates, informed the RCSI HG OLOL site that they are no longer in a position to fund & provide the second imaging room within the expanded ED To note, imaging provisions within OLOL remain as follows: -        Imaging provisions within the general hospital·         CT Scanner (1)  ·         2nd CT due Q1 2019* MRI Scanner (1)* Ultrasound rooms (2)-       Imaging provisions in ED* Plane Film (1) I trust this information is of assistance to you. Yours sincerely,
  ______________________________Sheila McGuinnessChief Operations OfficerRCSI Hospitals Groupcoo@rcsihospitals.ie