TD and consultants argue over break-up of hospitals

A bitter dispute has broken out between consultants and a Government TD over who is to blame for a feared break-up of the hospital network in the south-east and a consequent loss of health services.

Fine Gael TD John Deasy has accused consultants at Waterford Regional Hospital, which may lose specialities like cancer care and cardiology under the plan, of putting in an “underwhelming” performance when arguing the case for retaining the south-east network and all its facilities.

However, the hospital’s clinical director, Dr Rob Landers, retorted that Mr Deasy was trying to shift the blame from Government TDs.

The spat centres on a report from an expert group chaired by Dr John Higgins of UCC, which is currently with the Department of Health. It is due for consideration by Health Minister James Reilly.

It is understood the report recommends the break-up of the south-east hospital network, a move that would see Waterford Regional and South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel being linked with Cork University Hospital; and the general hospitals in Kilkenny and Wexford partnered with teaching hospitals in Dublin.

Fine Gael’s Mr Deasy said “senior consultants” at Waterford Regional, involved in negotiations with the region’s other hospitals, are “scapegoating politicians” for their lack of success in these talks.

“The performance of these senior consultants was underwhelming, to say the least. They are the ones who needed to make the argument based on medical best practice and they did not perform.”

Mr Deasy added: “I think Waterford has been outmanoeuvred in discussions and the blame for that has been shifted in our direction.”

However, Mr Landers denied the accusation that consultants had under-performed in the negotiations. “I would refute that,” he said yesterday.