Mallow Hospital lab shortages force cancellation of surgeries

Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock also said there are 34.5 full-time hospital vacancies at Mallow General Hospital

The laboratory service at Mallow General Hospital has been hit by staff shortages, forcing the cancellation of some surgical procedures at the hospital.

Support is now needed from Cork University Hospital and the Irish Blood Transfusion Board to enable the lab to deliver its services, following a sudden drop in staff numbers. One person is on maternity leave until June next year, another resigned in August, and one is on long-term sick leave.

Up to mid-September this left the laboratory with one lab assistant working alongside medical scientists doing the equivalent work of 1.5 full-time scientists, despite the recent approval of additional posts.

Concerns have been raised with the HSE and the Minister for Health by Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock.

He warned in some cases “the diminution of haematology and other blood-related laboratory services at Mallow General Hospital” has reached "the point where surgical procedures are being cancelled.” 

He also highlighted broader concerns across the hospital with separate HSE data released to him showing vacancies equivalent to 34.5 full-time hospital staff at Mallow. Mr Sherlock called for any shortages to be urgently addressed so patients can continue to benefit from recent expansions of care at the site.

In response, regional executive officer Andy Philips said staff attached to CUH were filling the gap in the short-term and he said “particularly staff from the Mallow area”. Contingency arrangements had to be put in place as the service could not be maintained otherwise, he said.

Concerns have been raised with the HSE and the Minister for Health by Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock. File photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The Irish Blood Transfusion Board is also supporting CUH in this new approach. These new arrangements were expected to be fully in place by this week.

He acknowledged the impact on patients, and said he expects a temporary disruption which saw “approximately 3-4 laparoscopic colon resections per week” on pause to end this week.

“Elective surgery will continue to commence at 8am with local anaesthetic cases with general anaesthetic cases commencing on receipt of the blood products from CUH at 10am,” he added.

The changes mean “sustainable elective surgery service” in Mallow can continue, he said. This includes, in the short-term, having CUH laboratory staff rostered on at Mallow.

Parts of the system are similar to the way Nenagh hospital works with University Hospital Limerick, he told Mr Sherlock.