Thousands of people waiting for ultrasound scan in Louth

There are nearly 7,000 people waiting for an ultrasound scan at hospitals in Dundalk and Drogheda this week, as a key radiographer position remains vacant, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

The Sinn Féin TD has written to Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to outline “major concerns” that have arisen with a vacant ultrasound job at the Louth County Hospital after he secured a second topical issue debate in a month in Leinster House last week.

The Sinn Féin deputy said the ultrasound waiting lists have grown to 7,000 and pointed to the fact that the job for clinical specialist sonographer ultrasound was originally advertised in June 2025 after the previous post holder advised she was retiring in October 2025.

There were five candidates for the position and an interview panel was being put together that summer for interviews in July with a view to filling the position after the incumbent’s retirement.

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But, as Deputy Ó Murchú outlined, that process was put on hold and he was advised the reason for this was that a clinical specialist radiographer in interventional radiology needed to be employed in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

The Drogheda post was lost because it had not been filled by the time the Pay and Numbers Review took place and was suppressed.

He said: “Following questions in this house, the Minister was advised that the post in Dundalk is open to applications, and the new application deadline is November 30.

“The problem is that none of the five candidates have been advised of this and indeed those in senior HR positions within the hospitals are not aware of the application deadline. Indeed, when you try to look the job up on the HSE website, it doesn’t seem to exist.

“I am advised that capacity is currently down 50% and there are 7,000 currently on the waiting list. In addition, there is no leadership in the ultrasound service at the Louth County Hospital, from where the clinical specialist radiographer retired last month.

“It is all very concerning and all the more concerning that if the HSE moves to clear this backlog, they are going to be using the services of private clinics like they have at times in the past”.

In response, Minister Michael Healy Rae said the recruitment process to fill the vacancy is under way and the position is currently being advertised, with interviews to be scheduled ‘in due course’.

Minister Healy Rae said: “The Minister (for Health) has been assured by the HSE that while this recruitment process is ongoing, there will be no disruption to patient care or service delivery.

“I also understand that enhanced governance arrangements are being implemented for this position. These are designed to strengthen oversight, improve co-ordination and ensure clear lines of accountability across LCH and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

“The Minister has also been advised by the HSE that the clinical specialist radiographer will be primarily based at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, with integrated managerial and clinical governance responsibilities across Louth County Hospital, demonstrating this integrated approach”.