Failure to cover leave extended respiratory clinic delays

FAILURE to replace a locum doctor at one of the country’s leading children’s hospitals contributed to a massive two-year waiting list delay in a vital respiratory clinic, it has emerged.

The Irish Examiner has learned that the delay at Temple Street’s respiratory clinic occurred during the same period the facility was unable to replace a locum respiratory physician at the unit who had left on maternity leave.

As a result of the situation the clinic, which has a capacity to treat more than 800 children with serious lung complaints a year, was forced to suspend GP referrals from March 2009 until the start of this month.