HSE urged to halt closure

THE mid-west Health Service Executive has been requested to suspend the proposed closure of a high-dependency unit at Ennis Hospital on March 1, along with other centralisation proposals, pending the completion of an independent review.

Dr John Hillery has sought a halt to the reconfiguration of health services in the mid-west over concerns by local health professionals and patients.

He claimed the policy was resulting in local services being reduced at Ennis Hospital before resources had been put in place to operate the changed services, resulting in patient safety being compromised.

The appointment of a new HSE chief executive and a new minister for health since the policy was implemented necessitated a review of the effectiveness of the policy, he said.

Dr Hillery proposed a HIQA audit, similar to the one carried out at Ennis Hospital, should be undertaken at the Mid West Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, as well as associated support services which were supposed to provide a safe, comprehensive healthcare service to Clare and the region.

“The reconfiguration policy is in line with best practice and fundamentally is designed to enhance patient safety and access to healthcare services.