Sligo University Hospital Launches New CT Angiography Service Ending Long Journeys to Dublin for Cardiac Patients
More than sixty patients across the north-west of Ireland have already benefited from a new CT Angiography service at Sligo University Hospital that was formally highlighted by HSE West and North West this week, with the development ending a situation in which patients requiring specialist cardiac imaging had no option but to travel to Dublin — a journey of up to three hours each way for those living in the most remote parts of the region.
Background
CT Angiography is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses computed tomography scanning to visualise blood vessels, particularly the coronary arteries of the heart. It is a critical diagnostic tool in the assessment of suspected coronary artery disease, allowing clinicians to identify blockages and abnormalities without the need for more invasive catheter-based procedures. The quality and speed of CT Angiography has improved dramatically over the past decade, making it an increasingly important first-line investigation for patients presenting with chest pain and other cardiac symptoms.
Prior to the introduction of the service at Sligo University Hospital, patients in the north-west requiring CT Angiography faced a significant practical challenge. The nearest facilities were in Dublin, meaning that a diagnostic appointment could involve a full day of travel for patients who were often already unwell and anxious. For elderly patients, those with mobility difficulties, and those without access to private transport, the journey represented a genuine barrier to timely diagnosis.
Sligo University Hospital serves as the model 3 public acute hospital for a catchment area covering Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, and West Cavan — a predominantly rural region with a dispersed population and limited public transport infrastructure. The hospital has been undergoing significant development throughout 2026, including the construction of a 42-bed ward extension, as part of a broader effort to address the long-standing gap between the healthcare infrastructure of the west and that of the east coast.
Key Developments
The CT Angiography service became operational at Sligo University Hospital in April 2026, and by late August more than sixty patients had received screenings. HSE West and North West highlighted the service this week as part of a broader communication about improvements to regional cardiac care, noting that the development strengthens local cardiology pathways and improves access to modern diagnostics for a population that has historically been underserved.
Hospital management confirmed that the service is expected to reduce waiting times for cardiac investigations and to free up capacity at Dublin hospitals that had been absorbing referrals from the north-west. The introduction of the service also supports the broader HSE strategy of developing regional centres of excellence that can deliver specialist care closer to where patients live.
The new service complements the hospital's existing radiology infrastructure, which includes X-ray, ultrasound, standard CT scanning, and MRI imaging. The addition of CT Angiography represents a qualitative step forward in the hospital's diagnostic capability, bringing it closer to the standard of care available in larger urban centres.
Why It Matters
The geography of Irish healthcare has long been a source of frustration for communities west of the Shannon. The concentration of specialist services in Dublin and, to a lesser extent, Cork and Galway, has meant that patients in the north-west have routinely faced longer waits and longer journeys than their counterparts in more urbanised areas. This is not merely an inconvenience — research consistently shows that delays in cardiac diagnosis are associated with worse outcomes, and that the stress of long-distance travel can itself be harmful for patients with heart conditions.
The Sligo CT Angiography service is a relatively modest development in the context of the overall healthcare system, but it is precisely the kind of targeted investment that makes a material difference to real people's lives. For a patient in Manorhamilton or Ballyshannon who previously faced a day-long round trip to Dublin for a diagnostic scan, the availability of the same service in Sligo represents a fundamental improvement in their access to care.
The development also reflects a broader shift in HSE thinking about regional service delivery. The Sláintecare reform programme, which aims to move care closer to communities and reduce dependence on acute hospital settings, has been slow to deliver in some areas, but the Sligo CT Angiography service is a concrete example of the kind of decentralisation that the programme envisages.
Local Impact
For patients across Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, and West Cavan, the practical impact of the new service is immediate and tangible. Patients referred for cardiac investigation by their GP or by the emergency department at Sligo University Hospital can now receive CT Angiography locally, with results available to their clinical team without the delays associated with inter-hospital referrals. Family members and carers who would previously have had to take time off work to accompany patients to Dublin can now support their loved ones through a local appointment.
The hospital's cardiology team has indicated that the service is already improving the speed of diagnosis for patients presenting with chest pain, allowing clinicians to rule out or confirm significant coronary artery disease more quickly and to initiate appropriate treatment without delay. For the sixty-plus patients who have already benefited, the service has delivered exactly what it promised: specialist care, close to home.
What's Next
HSE West and North West has indicated that the CT Angiography service will continue to expand its capacity as demand grows and as the clinical team builds experience with the technology. The hospital's broader development programme, including the 42-bed ward extension, is expected to be completed in 2027, further increasing the hospital's ability to manage complex cases locally. Regional health officials have also signalled that additional specialist services may be considered for Sligo in the coming years, as part of the ongoing effort to address the healthcare infrastructure deficit in the north-west.
