New Limerick hospital's CT scanner expected to 'significantly reduce' wait times
The PET CT scanner will be the first in the Mid-West region
THE first PET CT scanner in the Mid-West region will be introduced as part of Bon Secours Hospital Limerick's new Clinical Services Hub this autumn.
The PET CT service will form a central part of the hub, which is located beside the new Bon Secours Hospital Limerick in Ballysimon.
It is scheduled to become fully operational this October and is expected to “significantly reduce” waiting times.
Once live, the PET service will provide patients across the Mid-West and beyond with timely access to advanced imaging technology that combines metabolic and anatomical imaging, enabling earlier and more accurate detection of cancer, cardiac disease and neurological conditions.
The scanner is being introduced in the region by Alliance Medical, in partnership with Bon Secours Hospital Limerick.
"We are proud to bring the first PET CT service to the Mid-West, working closely with Bon Secours Hospital Limerick to deliver this significant enhancement to patient care," said Malcolm Banks, managing director, Alliance Medical Ireland.
"As a company headquartered in Limerick for 25 years, this is an investment in the Mid-West. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring patients have rapid access to world-class diagnostic services, delivered locally and in a fully integrated clinical setting. Early diagnosis is key to successful treatment, and the Clinical Services Hub will ensure patients benefit from faster access and more coordinated care."
The PET CT scanner is described as a “major step forward” for patients in the Mid-West.
A spokesperson for Alliance Medical said: “By combining advanced diagnostic imaging with fully integrated care, it can ensure that patients benefit from more precise staging, faster interventions and more personalised care closer to home.”
The new PET CT service is expected to “significantly reduce” patient waiting and travel times, meaning individuals in the Mid-West will no longer have to undertake journeys to Dublin or Cork for this vital scan.
Alliance Medical have also said this local accessibility will enhance early detection capabilities and provide referring clinicians with highly detailed diagnostic information to guide treatment planning.