Hospital suspends mammography services due to staffing shortage

Staffing shortages at a large hospital in Ireland have caused the organization to have to temporarily pause its mammogram services. 

Mayo University Hospital’s only technologist trained in mammography recently retired; their position was not filled prior to their last day, leaving hundreds of patients seeking mammogram services in limbo in the interim. 

Minister of State Alan Dillon confirmed that the 300-bed hospital’s mammogram offerings had recently been suspended and that the organization was taking steps to remedy the issue. 

“This is a deeply regrettable situation for Mayo patients who rely on Mayo University Hospital for vital mammogram services,” Dillon Said. “Equality of access to healthcare is a fundamental right, and Mayo people deserve the same standard of timely care as anyone else in the country.” 

Reports indicate that a new radiographer qualified to conduct mammograms has been hired. However, that person is not expected to start the role until the beginning of 2026. As such, women in need of mammograms are being routed to neighboring Galway, which is approximately 52 miles from Mayo. 

“While I welcome confirmation that a permanent radiographer has been recruited, it is deeply regrettable that patients in Mayo should have to travel such long distances for this service,” Dillon said. 

In the meantime, the hospital is working to secure a temporary replacement to restore services. 

Local residents and elected representatives have criticized the hospital’s lack of urgency regarding the situation. Some have publicly called the failure “pathetic” and denounced stakeholders’ slow-moving efforts to restore mammogram services for patients. 

The issue of shortages of qualified technologists is a global one, especially in the wake of the healthcare staffing exodus post-COVID. Many imaging departments in the United States continue to struggle to stay fully staffed as well, and new data suggest openings for some modalities, such as CT, are reaching “all-time highs.”