HSE blame scarcity of specialised radiographers for suspension of Mayo Mammography Service

The scarcity of specialised radiographers is being blamed by the HSE for failing to provide maternity cover for the Mayo mammography service.

The mammography service for Mayo women which was provided by Mayo University Hospital in the Castlebar Primary Care Centre is suspended while the HSE struggles to recruit a temporary radiographer to provide maternity cover. As a result, Mayo women are forced to travel to Galway to avail of the service.

The issue was raised at the HSE Regional Health Forum West meeting by Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne who was informed that despite a recruitment campaign for the temporary post, the HSE has been unsuccessful in filling it and the post will be advertised again.

The Castlebar-based councillor was critical of the HSE for failing to recruit staff for the Castlebar service and claimed it would not happen in Galway.

However, Ann Cosgrove, the HSE Integrated Health Area Manager for Galway and Roscommon replied that location had nothing to do with the failure to recruit and claimed there was a scarcity of qualified radiographers for the type of work required.

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“The specialism for mammography for radiographers is a very scarce specialism to be honest with you. We have the same difficulties in Galway in terms of recruiting and retaining radiographers for that specific specialist interest.

“There is specialist training required for it...we have trained our own along the way. We have taken staff and given them specialist training but it is just a fact that it is a scarce specialism for that particular discipline. It is not unique to Mayo unfortunately and is something we experience across the services,” she told the meeting.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne critcial of HSE response to provide cover at Mayo Mammography Service

Cllr Kilcoyne was informed that the initial vacancy arose in the Mayo service as a result of a retirement and a successful candidate was appointed following a recruitment campaign. However this radiographer is currently on maternity leave and is due to take up post in early 2026.

Mary Warde, the Integrated Health Area Manager for Mayo added that they are also engaging with various agencies to cover the maternity and patients will continue to be offered appointments in University Hospital Galway until this service recommences in Mayo.

Cllr Kilcoyne said he understood the HSE's answer to his query but the failure to provide cover was affecting women in the county.

“It is causing a severe inconvenience to the women of Mayo who are entitled to the service the same as any other area. Just because you have a certain Eircode it seems to me you will be left out. If you have a Mayo Eircode you don't seem to get the priority the Galway ones get,” he said.