Vital equipment at the Longford Clinic must be upgraded with immediate effect according to a local Councillor.
Peggy Nolan claims the current radiology machines are obsolete while an ultra-sound facility is needed to complement the existing maternity service.
While the Fine Gael Representative acknowledges some minor refurbishment work has taken place at the St. Joseph's site she's concerned patients will be forced to travel out of the county for such care.
At this month's meeting of the local authority Councillor Nolan requested a letter be sent to the HSE seeking a definite budget for the new equipment:
"If this upgrade doesn’t happen within the next couple of months, it could leave the whole facility in crisis because the equipment that is being used at the moment is obsolete.
Should that break down, or parts give up on that particular equipment, there are no parts to be got because it is so old.
They were promised an upgrade of equipment, I’m calling on that to happen with immediate effect.
I have no confidence in the HSE when it comes to delivering services for my county, so as far as I am concerned we need the upgrade, we need it now and that is not something I will be stepping away from."
