Head injury patients will have to be sent abroad, surgeons warn Martin

NEUROSURGEONS have warned the Government to prepare to send patients with head injuries overseas for treatment, claiming the service faces collapse because of new work schedules.

In a letter to Health Minister Mícheál Martin, the country’s nine neurosurgeons warned the crisis will force them to halve the number of outpatient appointments and reduce the number of operations.

“We believe that acute neurological services will partially collapse on or around August 1 of this year. It is imperative that the Department of Health has arrangements in place to transfer acute patients to a neurosurgical facility outside the State from the date,” the letter states.