HSE aims to reassure patients over safety

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has moved to reassure users of Mallow General Hospital that the service is safe.

This follows publication of a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which found that if a seriously ill patient attended the emergency department, or if the condition of a patient deteriorated out of hours, they may not have a senior doctor available to them in a timely way.

Furthermore, the report said the absence of onsite anaesthetic expertise could mean the safety of patients requiring respiratory or airways support were at greater risk unless robust controls were in place.