Huge wait for x-ray results
PATIENTS with heart problems could be waiting up to a month to get x-ray results because there is no full time radiologist at Mallow General Hospital. GPs in North Cork may now have to wait several week before they can diagnose patients with recurring heart problems when the results should be available within days.
Duhallow based GP Dr Bertie Daly said that while patients with broken bones are prioritised, those who may be suffering from cardiac problems or muscular pain have to wait for weeks for xray results.
"Patients are ringing GPs looking for x-ray reports, we then have to follow up with the hospital. Although the xrays are done, there is no guarantee that the x-rays will be read in time," said Dr Daly.
Describing the situation as an emergency, Fine Gael Cllr Noel O'Connor, said, "It is absolutely devastating for patients not to have reports going back in a reasonable time."
Acknowledging that delaying x-rays is not ideal, Professor John Higgins, Director of Hospital Reconfiguration in the South West, told The Corkman on Wednesday that there will be a significant enhancement of the radiology department in Mallow.
Meanwhile, a HSE spokesperson said a permanent consultant radiologist is due to start in Mallow Hospital on August 23 to work along with the current part-time radiologist.
The HSE spokesperson accepted there was a delay in the turnaround time for non-urgent x-ray reports to GPs from MGH during last April and May and, instead of the usual one to two week turnaround time, non urgent x-ray reports were sent back to GPs within three to four weeks over that time.
The spokesperson said the delay arose due to the unexpected retirement of a member of the Mallow radiology team but any 'abnormality' found in an xray would be phoned through to a patient's GP immediately.
- LOUISE MCCARTHY lmccarthy@corkman.ie
