Lives at risk as CAT scan lies unused.

A YEAR after the cancer misdiagnosis scandal at Ennis General hospital it appears little has changed.

Instead of hiring expert radiologists to make sure no more lives are lost they have closed down their scanning department.

It is nothing short of outrageous that a machine that can save lives and prevent misery is lying idle.

It is understandable the HSE is reluctant to operate their scanner with temporary staff but this decision has meant that patients are having to travel to Limerick.

The hospital obviously does not want to become embroiled in another misdiagnosis fiasco and management have closed the department.

This is another example of the health authorities putting their own welfare before that of their patients.

At a time when it is being reported that there are hundreds of HSE administrators with little or nothing to do, it is incredible that a large hospital is dependent on one specialist.

Surely if proper planning had been in place it would have been possible to have another qualified professional to take over before the other CAT operator left his post.

In most other walks of life it is known as good management but it is something that is in precious short supply in Ireland's health service.

Unless this scanner is reinstated and experts hired to use it properly, women like Ann Moriarty will have died in vain.