CALLS are being made for the immediate allocation of a PET scanner in University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan has called on the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, for the medical imaging device – which is used to diagnose and treat cancer, heart conditions and brain disorders by creating images of cellular activity and anatomy – to be supplied for the regularly overcrowded Limerick hospital.
In response to a parliamentary question by the Labour Party TD for Limerick City, the HSE confirmed that “plans are currently being developed for the provision of a PET scanner in the Mid West”, noting that the plans may still be a ways off as they are “subject to funding availability in 2026”.
Following the response, Deputy Sheehan is now urging Minister Carroll MacNeill to commit to funding for a PET scanner at UHL now so that steps can be taken immediately to provide this vital equipment for cancer patients in the Mid West.
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
“It is disgraceful that cancer patients in the Mid West currently have to travel long distances to Cork, Waterford, or Dublin to access PET scanners. They face unacceptable delays in their diagnosis which leads to poorer outcomes and more invasive treatment,” he said.
“According to the most recent National Cancer Registry Ireland report, UHL currently has the worst outcomes for patients. We urgently need a PET scanner in UHL so that patients can be properly diagnosed earlier, receive treatment earlier and be offered the best chance of recovery.”