Patients being sent to consultant who has left post

PATIENTS at a Midlands hospital are still being sent appointments to see a consultant who no longer works there.

The HSE confirmed that even though the consultant dermatologist left the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar earlier this year to take up a post in a large teaching hospital in Dublin, patients are still receiving appointments to see the same consultant.

“The appointment system in place in the hospital currently is such that to maintain a patient on a consultant list for an appointment, it must be scheduled even though there is no consultant available,” a spokeswoman said. “As a result a number of patients have had their appointments rescheduled, however, the process will ensure that once the vacant post is filled, those waiting can be guaranteed an appointment.”