Ten additional hospitals pose 'significant risk'
The news comes as anger grew over the planned downgrading of Roscommon Hospital next week.
Scotching rumours to the contrary last night, Health Minister James Reilly confirmed the emergency department at Roscommon would still close on Monday, as planned.
The minister pledged, however, that 24-hour care with consultants and staff would be provided for a month while a new urgent care unit is set up to replace the emergency department.
The minister’s problems intensified further when the Health Service Executive (HSE) released a list of ten hospitals nationwide, originally identified by the health watchdog HIQA, in which significant problems plague services.
“Significant risk issues” have been identified in hospital services at Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, Louth County Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, Ennis, Nenagh, Roscommon County Hospital, Portlaoise, St Columcille’s Hospital (Dublin), Bantry Hospital and St John’s Hospital (Limerick).
In a briefing to TDs, the HSE suggested that of the ten hospitals named the medium-term solutions require changes to ensure that high-risk patients by-pass these hospitals.
Mallow General Hospital now looks set to follow the path of Roscommon, with the HSE revealing yesterday to an Oireachtas Committee that its emergency department will also be replaced by an urgent care unit in November this year.
Reacting, Sinn Féin TD Mary Lou McDonald said the running down and closing of critical hospital services was not a strategy but a recipe for disaster.
“Safety in patient care is a given and should not be used to justify the reduction in the most basic patient care. Local access to A&E services must be protected,” she said.
Meanwhile, trade unions representing staff at Roscommon Hospital yesterday warned that plans to open the new, replacement downgraded unit could not go ahead on Monday.
SIPTU and IMPACT members voiced concern with HSE officials about preparations for the unit, which will only be open between 8am and 8pm.
Mir Reilly said yesterday that victims of stroke and cardiac arrest should travel to Galway for serious hospital treatment instead of visiting the downgraded emergency service unit.
Mr Reilly earlier this week quoted figures suggesting cardiac patients were four times more likely to die at Roscommon Hospital than at Galway Hospital.
“This must be done, this is safer,” he told RTÉ.
