Ward closures will have devastating effect, says union

HEALTH trade union IMPACT has claimed a series of ward closures in Galway over the summer will have a devastating effect on patients and communities in the region.

The union yesterday met with Health Service Executive (HSE) management in the west and afterwards said it had been told there would be a summer of cuts which would see:

Merlin Park Hospital’s orthopaedics ward closed for two months in August and September. The union said when the ward reopens it would do so as a five-day ward, rather than seven days at present.

St Mary’s medical ward in University College Hospital Galway (UCHG) closed for three weeks next month.

St Monica’s gynaecology ward in UCHG closed for the rest of the year.

Furthermore, IMPACT said there were to be new restrictions on laboratory testing, cuts in theatre operating times and a review of spending on drugs and antibiotics prescribed to patients.

The union said it had also been told all training was to cease, except mandatory training, and there was to be a further slowdown in appointments of staff, on top of severe current recruitment restrictions.

It said the cuts could get worse as management had told unions further reductions in services might become necessary to meet new HSE spending targets.

“The simple message from the HSE is this: If you live in Galway, don’t get sick this summer,” said IMPACT official Denis Rohan.

Meanwhile, doctors in Louth County Hospital accused the HSE of gross neglect of patients for removing two doctors from the roster.

The accusation came after the number of Senior House Officers working in the hospital’s surgical department was reduced by two and three interns were removed.

Registrars at the hospital said they would now have to carry out the work of those staff as well as their own. They said they would not fill the shortfall.

The HSE said such a move constituted industrial action.