New mobile health service is proving a success in the West

A mobile x-ray service for older people and people with disabilities is proving popular in the HSE West area.

Community Healthcare West Chief Officer John Fitzmaurice told the HSE Forum West last week that Community Healthcare West launched a mobile x-ray service last December for older people and people with disabilities in partnership with Mobile Medical Diagnostics. This free, community-based service is available to older patients in nursing homes, community facilities and in their own homes. Under the scheme, people referred by their GP have x-rays taken in their nursing home or facility where they reside instead of having to travel to a hospital.

“All types of x-rays are facilitated, including chest, hip/pelvis, knee, wrist and shoulder. The service has steadily grown in capacity since the launch in December, and figures for July 2024 are as follows; 81 patient visits were made in July 2024 and this included referrals from 33 Nursing Homes both public and private. In total 105 x-rays were performed, and 80 of the 81 older people referred avoided a transfer to the acute hospital. This resulted in 160 ambulance trips that were avoided.” The CO also listed the Mayo locations where x-rays are available, which include Castlebar Primary Care Centre and Ballina and Belmullet District Hospitals; while Ultrasound services are available at Castlebar and Claremorris Primary Care Centres.