Outcomes in bigger hospitals 'better for A and E patients'

Bigger hospitals offer better outcomes to patients brought in for urgent care out of main working hours, a consultant doctor has said.

Consultant endocrinologist Dr Donal O'Shea was speaking after campaigners for the retention of an A and E department at Roscommon Hospital vowed to keep up the fight to retain it.

The Government has announced the hospital's A and E department will close from July 11.

Some 2,000 people last night attended a meeting in Roscommon in protest at the downgrading of services in the hospital.

Other smaller hospitals could be affected in the same way, once new medical rotations begin on July 11.

Dr Donal O'Shea said that from his experience of working in hospitals of different sizes: "If you're brought acutely unwell to the smaller hospital overnight and out of hours, your chance of a bad outcome is much higher than if you're brought to a bigger hospital."

Dr O'Shea is a consultant endocrinologist at St Colmcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown and at St Vincent's in Dublin.