The Southern Health Board yesterday commissioned a £480,000 CT Scanner machine for Tralee General Hospital which will allow Kerry patients suffering chest and stomach cancer and other illnesses be assessed locally.
The CT Scanner is being funded by a £200,000 capital allocation from the Department of Health and a further ££220,000 from the Friends of Tralee General Hospital, with the balance coming from the Southern Health Board's own funds. Tralee General Hospital consultant Mr Tom McCormack - one of the principals behind the fundraising efforts - welcomed the placing of the order for the CT Scanner, which is expected to be in operation by the end of 1997.
"The patients to benefit from the introduction of the service at Tralee General Hospital will include those with head injuries, chest cancer or cancer of the abdomen as well as patients with back injuries," he said.
Mr McCormack pointed out that the new service in Tralee will include a facility to transfer images by ISDN line to Cork University Hospital for consultation with specialists which will enable decisions be taken on whether patients need to be moved to Cork or can continue being treated in Tralee.
Southern Health Board chairman Mr Sean Hurley praised the Friends of Tralee General Hospital for its support for the development of hospital services.