Claims hospital put patients at risk denied

The Health Services Executive Mid-Western Area has denied claims by a group of hospital consultants that patients are being put at risk because senior management have not adequately responded to the needs of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.

The executive has responded to an open letter sent earlier this week by seven Ennis based consultants to the Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney, in which they expressed concern for patient safety at the hospital.

The two-page letter states: "As consultants appointed to the public health system, we have a professional and moral duty to ensure the highest possible standards of care for our patients. We have informed senior health management of our serious concerns and received no satisfactory response."