DUBLIN Port tunnel was closed on Saturday morning to allow for a mobile MRI unit to be transported through it on its way to Letterkenny University Hospital.
The hospital secured the mobile MRI unit for the duration of major installation works of a new machine to replace the existing MRI scanner, which is currently end of life and due for replacement.
Enabling works got underway this week and the mobile scanner will be operational from Monday.
“LUH has secured a mobile MRI unit for the duration of the installation works. This unit arrived from Portsmouth via Dublin port in the early hours of Saturday morning August 19. The large load required a temporary planned closure of the Dublin Port tunnel before continuing its escorted journey to Donegal. Enabling works are underway this week and the mobile scanner will be operational from Monday,” said a Saolta spokesperson.
“A number of engagements with relevant stakeholders took place in recent months preparing for the removal of the existing scanner and scheduling the enabling works required prior to the installation and commissioning of the new scanner.
“There has been a significant body of work completed to date and it is envisaged that the new installation will take up to twelve weeks to complete.”
The spokesperson said patients will not be affected by the crossover of equipment.
“In preparation for the ramping down of the old scanner, additional lists were performed and all urgent in-patient MRI scan requests were cleared. While the mobile unit is being commissioned LUH have secured a number of outpatient and inpatient MRI slots to accommodate urgent time critical cases.”
Letterkenny University Hospital secured funding through the National Equipment Replacement Programme (NERP) to replace the existing MRI scanner.
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