Downgrade of hospital ‘runs the risk of losing lives’
The hospital’s accident and emergency staff said they save 20 lives every year. “If you lose local services, you also run the risk of losing lives,” HSAG spokeswoman, Senator Kathleen O’Meara warned yesterday.
If the Monaghan Hospital experience was replicated in hospitals around the country more people would die prematurely, she said.
“The case being put forward in Clare is the one that could also be made in north Tipperary and in many other parts of the country,” said Ms O’Meara.
The group was set up to oppose the implementation of the Hanly Report, which said hospitals like Ennis General Hospital, which has 88 beds and serves a population of 94,000, could not continue to be sustained, either from a staffing or patient safety point of view.
“Not only from a health point of view but from an economic and social point of view we need to retain health services locally, especially acute and emergency services,” said Ms O’Meara.
The report on Ennis General Hospital commissioned by Ennis Hospital Development Committee, was carried out by Dr Jim Bradley.
Committee spokesman Peadar McNamara said the report’s cost comparison based on the number of staff per patient showed Ennis General Hospital was a third less than Limerick Regional Hospital.
There are nine consultants based in Ennis and the local consultants’ group has proposed there be 19.
The proposed restructure would mean the hospital would be able to comply with the European Working Times’ Directive.
Mr McNamara said the extra consultants would mean the hospital could continue to have a full A&E service in all specialties.
