The HSE has said it is committed to the provision of a new public MRI scanner service at the Regional Hospital Mullingar.
It said that approval for additional staff was communicated to the hospital in May.
The HSE said the hospital is working on a plan to bring the service into operation and will advise on timelines in the coming week.
The machine was secured following a major public fundraising campaign in the region and with the support of the Friends of the Regional Hospital Mullingar which helped raise over €1.2m.
Staff who had been trained on the use of the scanner had expected the service to begin today but say they were advised yesterday by management that the unit would close this week and this had raised uncertainty.
Local Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy told RTÉ News that he expected clarity to be brought to the situation today and that he had raised the matter with the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
Independent Ireland Councillor Paul Hogan expressed concern about the future of the scanner.
He said that he was contacted by a member of staff and members of the public to say that the MRI scanner would be out of operation from yesterday until further notice.
The HSE provided funding towards the capital works.
