The Covid-19 pandemic has delayed progress on an ongoing national review into catheterisation services at Sligo University Hospital where there have been calls for the provision of a permanent cath laboratory.
That’s despite the hospital having been among a number visited by health officials as part of the review.
While catheterisation is used for a variety of purposes, it has been mainly associated with cardiac diagnoses and treatments.
At present a mobile cath lab visits the hospital twice a week.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says no decision has yet been made in relation to further expansion of cath lab services in Sligo.
Sligo Fine Gael Sligo Councillor Thomas Walsh believes Sligo and the surrounding areas have the population needed for a fixed lab.
Speaking to OceanFM News, Councillor Walsh says €300,000 per year is spent on the mobile unit and with a little more investment, a lab could be built at the hospital.
