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15/08/2016
FF 'Extremely Worried' Over Lack Of Consultant Cover At Emergency Departments
One in three hospital Emergency Departments do not have Emergency Consultant cover, according to Fianna Fáil Health spokesperson, Billy Kelleher.
Deputy Kelleher said the figures had been released to Fianna Fáil through a Parliamentary Question, revealing that ten hospitals across the country have no 24/7 consultant cover. Deputy Kelleher said he was "extremely worried" by the new revelation.
"These figures confirm serious deficiencies in emergency cover in our hospitals – in fact a shocking 10 out of 29 Emergency Departments nationwide do not have a named Consultant in Emergency Medicine available and clinically accountable on a 24/7 basis," Deputy Kelleher said.
Hospitals included in the report are Mercy University Hospital Cork; Kerry General Hospital; Midland Regional, Mullingar; Midland Regional, Portlaoise; Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan; Portiuncula Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny; Wexford General Hospital; Mayo General.
"This is not acceptable and cannot be best patient safety practice. These figures come on foot of recent rationalisation reports and will raise serious concerns about the future of certain Emergency Departments. There is already widespread anxiety about the viability of some EDs and these figures will do nothing to appease these fears," Deputy Kelleher continued.
"It is notable that with the exception of the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, none of the others are the largest urban centres – you might almost get a sense of healthcare apartheid based on geography. Dublin hospitals are relatively well staffed with internationally trained Consultants whilst the midlands, Kerry and more rural areas do not have Consultant led Emergency Care at all.
"Efforts must be put in place to ensure that all these hospitals appoint a Consultant in Emergency Medicine, who is available and clinically accountable on a 24/7 basis, without delay. Some of the hospitals, such as Wexford and Kilkenny, have had significant investment in their Emergency Departments in recent years. It is simply wasteful not to staff them properly."
(MH/CD)
Deputy Kelleher said the figures had been released to Fianna Fáil through a Parliamentary Question, revealing that ten hospitals across the country have no 24/7 consultant cover. Deputy Kelleher said he was "extremely worried" by the new revelation.
"These figures confirm serious deficiencies in emergency cover in our hospitals – in fact a shocking 10 out of 29 Emergency Departments nationwide do not have a named Consultant in Emergency Medicine available and clinically accountable on a 24/7 basis," Deputy Kelleher said.
Hospitals included in the report are Mercy University Hospital Cork; Kerry General Hospital; Midland Regional, Mullingar; Midland Regional, Portlaoise; Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan; Portiuncula Hospital; South Tipperary General Hospital; St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny; Wexford General Hospital; Mayo General.
"This is not acceptable and cannot be best patient safety practice. These figures come on foot of recent rationalisation reports and will raise serious concerns about the future of certain Emergency Departments. There is already widespread anxiety about the viability of some EDs and these figures will do nothing to appease these fears," Deputy Kelleher continued.
"It is notable that with the exception of the Mercy University Hospital in Cork, none of the others are the largest urban centres – you might almost get a sense of healthcare apartheid based on geography. Dublin hospitals are relatively well staffed with internationally trained Consultants whilst the midlands, Kerry and more rural areas do not have Consultant led Emergency Care at all.
"Efforts must be put in place to ensure that all these hospitals appoint a Consultant in Emergency Medicine, who is available and clinically accountable on a 24/7 basis, without delay. Some of the hospitals, such as Wexford and Kilkenny, have had significant investment in their Emergency Departments in recent years. It is simply wasteful not to staff them properly."
(MH/CD)
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