Bone density scans have been suspended in Portiuncula Hospital for over two years and will not recommence until the broken scanner is replaced next month, Denis Naughten TD has revealed.

Almost 1,000 people are now on the waiting list for a bone density scan at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe with just 90 people referred to other hospitals for scans during the time the scanner has been broken.

Of those waiting for a bone scan in Portiuncula Hospital, 658 people have been waiting for more than 18 months and figures also show that individuals continued to be placed on the waiting list during the period that the scanner has been broken.

Denis Naughten was informed by the HSE this week that “the reason DEXA scans were suspended was due to equipment failure and reconfiguration of the fluoroscopy suite”.

“I understand the scanner will be replaced next month under the National Equipment Replacement Programme,” stated Denis Naughten. “However, it is difficult to understand how people continued to be added to the waiting list for over two years while the scanner was not in operation and why more patients were not referred to other hospitals during this time to ease the backlog.

“I will be raising this issue with the Minister Health to ascertain how the current waiting list will be tackled.”

HSE reply- Bone Density Scans Denis Naughten