A call has been made in the Seanad this week for the immediate funding of a second CT scanner at St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny.
Senator Patricia Stephenson shared speaking time yesterday with Senator Malcolm Noonan to raise the issues of staffing, bed capacity and medical equipment at the local hospital.
Senator Stephenson told the house that the absence of another CT scanner is adding to the many pressures that exist at the local hospital currently.. “The existing scanner at St. Luke’s is operating 24-7 under significant clinical strain as the hospital is experiencing such high demand.”
“The absence of the second scanner has a knock-on effect across the entire hospital. It delays diagnosis, slows clinical decision-making, prolongs stays in hospitals for patients, contributes to discharge delays for patients who are medically fit to leave but still waiting on imaging.”
