TD concerned new MRI Unit won't open due to staff shortages
A local TD has voiced concerns that the new €8.3m MRI Unit at Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar won't be able to open due to a shortage of staff.
The €1.2m MRI machine for the unit, which has been purchased from funds raised by the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar group, is due to be fitted on June 21 and operational from July.
Six years ago the HSE made a commitment to the Friends of Regional Hospital Mullingar that if it raised the funds to purchase the MRI machine, it would construct the unit and cover staffing costs.
However, speaking in the Dail yesterday, Deputy Robert Troy voiced concerns about whether there will be enough staff in place by the time the MRI machine is operational.
“The HSE has honoured part of its commitment, as the building is almost complete. The signs are positive ... in relation to staffing as approval has been given for a specialist post of a radiographer. However, the full staffing submission made last year needs approval without delay.
“They [hospital management] made a very streamlined staffing submission ensuring the most efficient use of resources. The annual costs will be €1.5 million, which is not a huge amount of money when taken in the context that last year alone the hospital spent €500,000 just on taxis and travel costs to bring patients from the hospital to other locations to have their MRIs completed. Some 902 MRI scans were done last year.
“That also does not take into account lost bed days....For every patient who must travel outside of the hospital, one to two bed days are lost. This new MRI scanner will cater for children and will greatly assist in reducing outpatient lists.”
Deputy Troy said that when the staffing submission is approved it could take between three and six months for the positions to be filled, depending on availability.
“There cannot be a situation in which a machine has been commissioned and is in place and a building has been completed but without staff in place to bring the machine into operation.”
Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister of State Jack Chambers, who as a trainee doctor spent time in MRH Mullingar, said that there are currently 1,100 whole time equivalent staff at the hospital, an increase of 17 per cent since December 2019.
“I take Deputy Troy's point; he and the community want an expeditious decision by the HSE so the capital works are brought to fruition. People want a functioning MRI, which was the focus of his topical Issue. I will reflect that and the strong wish of the community to see that and that in addition to the specialist radiographer, there is active recruitment for the full staffing complement so the many hundreds who went elsewhere last year can receive a local service and that the investment is brought to fruition in the context of the staffing complement,” Minister Chambers said.