"Turned up for appointment to be told there was staff shortages"

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.

I am very sorry to hear about the unfortunate experience you had when you arrived for a repeat chest x-ray in the x-ray department of Armagh Community Hospital.

I understand that this was very frustrating for you especially when you had to take time out of work to attend the appointment.

On that particular morning a member of staff from the x-ray department in Armagh Community Hospital had phoned in sick. Due to a high level of absence and sickness across the radiology teams within the Southern Trust on that particular day, management had to make the regrettable decision to close the Armagh x-ray department as there was no staff available to cover.

We did inform the GP's in that area that morning, but I recognise this was very short notice. We do not normally have to close departments but in this instance we had no choice due to staffing levels across the Trust.

It is our policy to offer patients and service users the option of attending another x-ray department within the Southern Trust, although I understand that this is not an ideal situation.

Within the Southern Trust radiology departments the staff work very hard to ensure timely delivery of care and the staff at all times try to be professional, compassionate and kind to all who use our service. I can only apology that you found your experience unprofessional and unacceptable.

Armagh community hospital x-ray department is now open 9 to 5pm Monday to Friday if you would like to drop in for your x-ray. Alternatively you can phone the x-ray department in Armagh on 02837566609 to arrange an appointment date that would suit you.

My sincere apologies for the lack of care you received and I will do my best in the future, as the lead radiographer, to ensure that this does not happen again as it is not ideal. We do strive to deliver high quality, compassionate care to everyone and unfortunately you did not receive this.

Again thank you for sharing your experience in an open and honest manner. We appreciate all feedback as it helps us, as a department, to continually improve the service and care we provide.

I hope you get your chest x-ray performed soon and receive the professional and compassionate care we strive to deliver on.

Kind regards

Helena