New mobile X-ray service helps Mayo patients avoid long A&E wait times

Since March 1 last, Mobile Medical Diagnostics, in partnership with the HSE, has completed the roll out of a national rapid response, community based mobile X-ray service to community hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, clients in intellectual disability or mental health services and suitable patients in private homes.

The service is now available in Mayo with no charge to the patient.

Following a public tender process, the HSE engaged Mobile Medical Diagnostics in May 2023 to roll out this national service, which had been operating on a pilot basis since 2022.

What this mobile X-ray service provides:

•All types of X-ray examinations including chest, hip/pelvis, knee, wrist and shoulder X-rays are carried out as part of the service.

•The new service means that if a Doctor deems an eligible patient requires an X-ray, then the Radiographer will arrive on-site.

•An X-ray examination will take place in their own room in the nursing home or in the patient’s own home and a report is shared with the referring doctor within four hours.

•Over 400 Nursing Homes and Community Nursing Units have used the service. Over 1000 GPs have referred to the service.

Patients do not need a medical card to avail of the service which is funded by the HSE

To date, they have visited over 10,500 patients, a hospital transfer was avoided in 94% of these cases.

The Consultant Radiologist reports are back to the referrer within 4 hours which allows for timely treatment of the patient most often in the comfort of their own surroundings.

For further information, contact info@mobilemed.ie.