Mayo breast cancer screening service closed due to staff shortage issues

The Mayo mammography service - essential in identifying early signs of breast cancer - is currently closed at Castlebar Primary Care Centre due to staff shortage issues.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne has raised the issue with the HSE West.

He stated patients from the county now have to travel to Galway for appointments..

The independent representative asked when the service will be returned to Castlebar.

A HSE West spokesperson stated: "The service is currently experiencing staff shortages due to leave. As a result, patients are being offered appointments in University Hospital Galway.

"The initial vacancy arose in the Mayo service as a result of a retirement.

"A recruitment campaign has been carried out and a successful candidate was appointed. This radiographer is currently on leave and is due to take up post in early 2026.

"In the interim the service is seeking to fill this role on a temporary basis. Approval has been granted.

"While a recruitment campaign has been initiated for this temporary post, to date we have not been successful in filling it.

"This post has been advertised again. As it is a priority for us to recommence offering this service in Mayo, we are exploring temporary agency cover.

"While this is being progressed, we have also explored the possibility of temporarily reorganising working schedules to allow these clinics to take place in Mayo, within the existing resources of HSE West and North West.

"To date, these efforts have been unsuccessful.

There have also been discussions with BreastCheck to see if they have any capacity to assist in providing clinics in Mayo. This has not been successful to date.

"Patients will continue to be offered appointments in University Hospital Galway until this service recommences in Mayo."