Tánaiste: No risk to trauma centres

The Tánaiste has said the Government has “no intention” of closing any emergency departments but has admitted the system must be overhauled.

Frances Fitzgerald accused opposition parties of scaremongering for raising reports that nine emergency departments are under threat of downgrading, shorter hours or closure of some kind and the removal of trauma facilities from them.

However, she added that a review of the “current fragmented arrangements for dealing with trauma in hospitals” is being carried out, and in some trauma cases, such as those involving car accidents, may be better off in centralised treatment centres.