Troubled Ireland hospital cites radiology department as a source of concern
A group of radiology consultants to University Hospital Kerry (UHK) in southwest Ireland say the hospital is in danger of losing its level three designation due to lack of resources and equipment, citing its radiology department as a central point of concern, the Irish Examiner reported.
The state of the hospital is so poor that one of the 24 consultants, Martin Schranz, MD, met with the CEO of the South SouthWest Hospital Group (SSWHG), which oversees UHK, to discuss concerns. Schranz then suggested the country’s Minister for Health, Simon Harris, should visit the hospital in-person to see its problems.
“In particular, I would invite him to visit the radiology department and see the Dexa [bone density] scanner, donated by the public, gathering dust in a corner, the irreversibly broken fluoroscopy machine [medical imaging], the idle second CT scanner, with no staff to operate it, and an ultrasound machine lying idle, with no proper room to work from,” Schranz said to the Examiner.
Schranz said he was disappointed with a Sept. 7 meeting with UHK executives, however one official involved in that meeting said the hospital has committed to act on other pressing matters, such as hiring its sole full-time cardiologist.
The consultants are scheduled to meet with the CEO of SSWHG again on Nov. 5.
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Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.