The HSE senior leadership team has reviewed the final draft of the five-year national strategy for radiology services, this newspaper has been informed.
The document is “currently with the CEO of the HSE”, a spokesperson for the Executive told the Medical Independent (MI).
The inadequate number of consultant radiologists working in the health system has been a source of ongoing concern.
The HSE’s spokesperson confirmed that workforce deficits and issues “pertaining to radiology services as a whole” are covered in the new strategy.
“The formalisation of a workforce plan will be part of additional work to support implementation of the strategy,” they added.
Earlier this year, the HSE planning and performance committee sought information on the development of national planning for radiology services.
According to minutes of the committee’s meeting in April, members were informed that the national radiology review steering group (NRRSG) and the national radiology review working group (NRRWG) had been established late last year.
“The early focus for both groups was the development of a service improvement plan,” according to the minutes.
Committee members were informed that both groups had now “shifted their focus” to the development of a five-year national strategic plan for radiology services.
The HSE’s spokesperson told MI that the main purpose of the NRRSG is to support the development of a sustainable future model for radiology services.
The purpose of the NRRWG is to “lead and direct the completion of all agreed draft deliverables”, including a five-year national strategy and the design of a service delivery model.
MI has previously reported on the shortages of radiologists and radiographers in the HSE, including in the BreastCheck programme.
The HSE performance profile report for October-December 2023 (which is the most recently published by the Executive) noted that these shortages were continuing to impact BreastCheck’s ability to catch-up with invitations delayed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Overcoming delays to invitations for BreastCheck screening is dependent on meeting the critical challenge of staff recruitment and retention,” stated the report.
“This remains the case and is not likely to change in the immediate future. This is an issue for radiology/radiography across the HSE.”
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