A special unit housing a controversial new CT scanner at Louth County Hospital in Dundalk was officially opened yesterday by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney. However, the CT scanner is still not in operation.
The scanner hit the headlines earlier this year when it emerged it had been standing idle for a few months in a laundry.
Yesterday the HSE admitted it still did not have staff to operate it.
"Approval has been received for the recruitment of two posts for the CT unit. The posts are a clinical specialist radiologist and basic grade radiologist. The recruitment process for these posts is under way," it said.
But it said it still hoped the scanner could be operational in the next two weeks by getting staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda to travel to Dundalk to operate it. "This proposal is currently being considered by Siptu," it added.
Kevin Figgis, Siptu branch organiser, said his members in Dundalk and Drogheda were being consulted on this proposal but he criticised the HSE for only advertising for new staff to run the service now.
"It's my understanding as of yesterday that the machine hasn't even been commissioned yet," he said. However, he said his members would try and get a resolution to provide the people of Dundalk with a CT service quickly.
The HSE said the scanner, which was purchased in December, was in the final stages of commissioning. During angry exchanges in the Dáil in February, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the scanner would be operational in March.