Community A&E vows to see patients within 30 minutes

THE first community-based public emergency department was opened yesterday with promises patients with minor injuries and illnesses would be treated within 30 minutes of arrival.

Health Minister Mary Harney said the new Mater Rapid Injury Clinic in Smithfield, Dublin, could be a template for future community emergency care.

“This obviously will complement what’s available at the Mater [Hospital] emergency department. It’s the same staff. It will be run as if it’s part of the hospital.

“Clearly it’s going to be convenient for patients who have minor injuries and don’t need to be in the [hospital] emergency department.”

It is expected that the public emergency clinic on Smithfield Square will take at least 30% of the hospital’s emergency department cases. The facility has been leased while the Mater Hospital prepares to carry out works on upgrading its emergency department facilities.

Patients with medical cards can be referred to the city centre clinic by their GPs or the hospital, but those who walk in off the street will be charged €100 for treatment while non-EU citizens will have to pay €200.

John Gallagher, chief executive of the Charter Medical Group – who are renting the clinic to the Mater Hospital – said the use of public health emergency clinics was popular outside Ireland.

“It’s a model that has worked very well in the UK and Scandinavia and France and the US. We would intend to see patients at the outset somewhere under 30 minutes after they arrive.&”

On-site X-ray and blood test facilities will be available at the public emergency clinic, which will be open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Only those over the age of 16 will be treated there.

Typical conditions which can be treated at the clinic include sports injuries, minor head injuries, bites, burns or scalds, broken bones or sprained muscles as well as skin infections.

The emergency clinic will be piloted for six months and says it hopes to take in at least 30 and 40 patients a day.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister yesterday said that the Tallaght X-Ray Inquiry was still on track to complete its work by the end of May.