Limerick’s outpatient blood clinic to close within weeks

AN OUTPATIENT blood clinic at St John’s Hospital in Limerick is to be closed from June 2 due to further health cutbacks.

Tim Kennelly, chief executive of St John’s, said the hospital this year is facing a €1 million shortfall due to its HSE allocation being drastically reduced.

Labour’s health spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan yesterday called for a reversal of the decision.

She said: “I have met a number of people through my clinics who attend St Johns regularly to have blood taken for testing to control and monitor various illnesses.

“One man who is a diabetic told me that he has been attending the Phlebotomy Clinic in St Johns for years has now been told that he will have to attend the regional hospital in Dooradoyle. There are many people who are going to be seriously affected as this service has been invaluable for sick and elderly people living in the city.”

She added: “I fully understand the HSE must operate within its budget but cutting frontline services, which vulnerable and sick people depend upon while upper management levels and costly PR and corporate departments are bloated, is not the correct course of action.”