FG fears for future of Peamount TB unit

Fine Gael deputy spokesman on Health, Dan Neville, today said he feared the termination of the contract of Peamount Hospital’s Medical Director would spark the closure of the TB unit there.

“Closing the Peamount unit at a time when TB levels in Ireland are already 50% higher than the present EU average is a cause for extreme concern," said Deputy Neville.

"Added to that is the prospect of higher rates of multi-drug-resistant TB following accession to the EU of Eastern European states with TB incidence rates of up to eight times greater than rates here.

“At the end of last week we saw an outbreak of multi-drug-resistant TB in the Netherlands when a patient from Eastern Europe infected six Dutch nationals so this is a very real danger and we need to strengthen our procedures to deal with it.

“I am baffled by the decision to terminate Prof. Luke Clancy’s contract while the hospital is still in consultation with the ERHA on a transition plan.

"Now we are faced with a situation where staff in that unit will have to function without a consultant specialist and more worryingly we have no timeframe in place for the transfer of the services provided at Peamount.

“The Minister for Health must intervene in this matter to ensure that Ireland has adequate measures in place to deal with this imminent public health risk.”