Hospitals pledge is double-speak

I SMILED knowingly when I read the statements reportedly made by Prof John Higgins in relation to the future of Bantry and Mallow hospitals (Irish Examiner, March 6).

We in Monaghan heard this type of language six years ago from the Taoiseach, ministers, TDs and health board officials, but it was all double-speak. When they say they “will not close a hospital”, they are likely telling the truth, though that might still be contradicted as they will close some hospitals.

However, they will remove all acute inpatient care, both medical and surgical, to a centralised hospital miles away and reduce the A&E to a nurse-led minor injuries unit open a few hours each day.

That is the HSE version of the Teamwork recommendations which are being implemented in Monaghan, about to be implemented in the mid-west, will then be applied to the south and eventually rolled out to all areas of the country.

This, they tell us, is “for patient safety” and to provide us with “better services”.

Despite all the spin and the millions of euro spent delivering it, they have not convinced us we will be safer or better off.

As a matter of fact we know we will be worse off and needless deaths will occur. Distance to acute care will be too far and the alternatives offered in the form of enhanced ambulances and advanced paramedics cannot replace hospital treatment within the “golden hour”. International research points to the dangers and difficulties of this type of care.

Added to this is the need for huge capital expenditure to get it in place, but they are attempting to implement the reforms on a cost-neutral basis which will only add to the dangers for patients and their families.

The only benefit to come from all this will be a ready market for the private investors and huge profits for them. This will be at the expense of the people who can afford health insurance and the taxpayer who will have to pay for the treatment of the public patient in the private facility.

The people of Bantry and Mallow should join forces with the people of Monaghan, Nenagh, Ennis, St John’s, Dundalk, Navan, Roscommon, Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Portlaoise, and the remainder of the 38 hospitals which will all be downgraded to leave 12 regional hospitals, as proposed by the Hanly report.

Peadar McMahon

Chairman

Co Monaghan Community

Alliance

Mullan Road

Emyvale

Co Monaghan