Patients in Balbriggan and surrounding north County Dublin communities can now access routine GP-referred X-rays closer to home, following the opening of a new X-ray service at Balbriggan Primary Care Centre.
The appointment-only service provides eligible patients aged 17 years and over with appointments typically within 48 hours.
Consultant radiologist reports are issued to the referring GP on the same working day, supporting timely clinical decision-making and helping patients access appropriate diagnostic care without unnecessary travel to an acute hospital.
The service is available by GP referral for eligible patients from Balbriggan, Rush, Lusk and Skerries. It provides a local option for appropriate routine X-ray referrals and will reduce the need for many patients to travel to an acute hospital for this type of diagnostic test.
Robert Kidd, HSE Integrated Healthcare Area Manager for Dublin North County, said:
“This service will make a real difference for people in Balbriggan and the surrounding communities.
“Eligible patients can now have routine X-rays arranged by their GP closer to home, rather than travelling to an acute hospital.
“By providing diagnostics locally, we can make care more convenient for patients and support faster clinical decision-making by GPs.”
The service operates under the national GP Access to Diagnostics scheme.
It is available by GP referral only and is not a walk-in service.
Patients who believe they may need an X-ray should contact their GP, who will assess their needs and make a referral where clinically appropriate.
The service operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 1pm, at Balbriggan Primary Care Centre.
It has been designed to provide safe, timely and high-quality diagnostic care in a community setting, while supporting hospital capacity by enabling appropriate routine diagnostics to be provided closer to patients’ homes.
All X-rays at Balbriggan Primary Care Centre are carried out by CORU-registered radiographers.
Reports are issued by IMC-registered consultant radiologists, supporting clinical quality and governance.
The introduction of the service is a practical step in expanding the range of care available locally and supporting GPs and other clinicians to care for more people safely in the community.
It supports the ongoing development of integrated care by helping ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Mobile Medical Diagnostics delivers the service as part of the national GP Access to Diagnostics scheme.