Consultants criticise limit on orthopaedic surgeries

CONSULTANTS have criticised the Health Service Executive’s move to limit the number of joint replacements in the north-east, a service arthritic patients “lived for”.

From next week orthopaedic theatres in Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan, Co Meath, will not used on Wednesdays and Fridays and the orthopaedic department will close for three weeks in December.

The HSE said that to contain costs it had to look at reducing elective work but would be working to minimise the impact of this on patients, in so far as it was practical.