Hospital downgrade puts lives at risk

TO say that an out of hours emergency skeleton service for Roscommon to treat critically ill patients is comparable to a fully equipped hospital already available in the area is outrageous.

I worked as a medical doctor on the wards and in the A&E department on Roscommon County Hospital, under the tutelage and guidance of excellent consultant medical physicians.

I can testify to the superb, dedicated and expert care provided by the excellent medical, surgical and nursing staff, in tending to the many critically ill patients brought in to A&E.

There is no doubt an excellent standard of 24-hour care was provided.

In my time working in A&E, we managed acute emergencies every day and night, including, cardiac arrests, acute shock, acute hypothermia, diabetic coma, acute head injuries, pulmonary emboli and severe road traffic accidents.

The standard of care provided by Roscommon County Hospital was and is certainly equal to the medical services provided in the many different hospitals I have worked in around Ireland.

I am appalled and shocked at the closure of the A&E services from 8pm to 8am, a night-time service that is a vital life-line to the people of Roscommon and its surrounding areas.

This is a deleterious retrograde step for the hospital and for the Irish medical services.

To say that patients will receive the same standards of care as previously, as they endure a two to three hour journey (depending on where they are coming from in the catchment area) to Galway, depending on weather and traffic, is an outright lie.

I do wonder who will take the blame for any deaths or deleterious consequences to patients health that might occur from the appalling downgrade of this service?

Dr Cliodhna Donnelly, MD,MPH,DCH

Knocknacarra Road

Salthill

Galway