Cavan-Monaghan Sinn Féin TD Pauline Tully recently brought the issue of lengthy waiting times to access MRI scans to the attention of the Tánaiste. According to the local TD there is currently a nine to ten-month waiting list to get an MRI scan.
She believes this is likely to be exacerbated further by the HSE recruitment freeze, which Deputy Tully says is a result of the underinvestment in health by the Government. The local TD say children should not have to wait this long for a scan to access a diagnosis to get services.
Deputy Tully said in recent weeks she has been contacted by the parents of a 22 month-old girl who has suspected cerebral palsy but she needs the diagnosis confirmed through an MRI scan in order to access supports and services. She was referred last April to Temple Street for an MRI scan, and she got an appointment for this coming January. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said this is a very long time for any child to have to wait to get confirmation of a suspected condition, especially one for such a serious condition.
