Patients in Co Roscommon are being made to wait for up to 4½ years for a CAT scan appointment, according to Fine Gael TD for Longford- Roscommon Denis Naughten.
Mr Naughten, speaking at a public meeting hosted by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, last night, said it was a disgrace that patients had to wait so long.
"When somebody has to wait a disgraceful four years just to have a CAT scan, it is clear that our health service is getting progressively worse even though more money is being thrown at it," he said. "In the last couple of weeks I've been made aware of two near identical instances of ridiculous waiting lists for CAT scan appointments in both ends of Co Roscommon.
"In the first case, a young woman who is experiencing blackouts and is on a waiting list for a CAT scan for the last 14 months was told that she could have to wait up to 4½ years in University College Hospital Galway before she could have the problem investigated.
"In the second case, a woman with a lump on her brain was told that she would have to wait 18 months for a CAT scan in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
"The fact that people with neurological problems have to wait years just to have a scan performed clearly highlights the chaos within the health service that is causing untold hardship," he said.
Mr Naughten said Government plans arising from the Hanly report would only make the situation worse.
"What chance will people have when smaller hospitals such as Roscommon and Portiuncula are downgraded?"