Clare patients Roscommon-bound?

CLARE patients, who previously opted for day services and diagnostic procedures in Galway, could well face a 290km round trip to Roscommon if a new proposal is adopted in a Health Service Executive reconfiguration of acute hospital services.

HSE West is considering a new proposal to transfer day-care surgeries and diagnostic services from University College Hospital, Galway to Roscommon County Hospital in an effort to reduce long waiting times for procedures. Unions were told at a recent meeting in Merlin Park Hospital that the HSE is planning to use Roscommon Hospital as a diagnostic centre for the region, following the recent closure of 24-hour emergency services at the facility.
This development has prompted fears that Clare patients could be used to prop up the Roscommon hospital, as a result of pressure from the local action committee on Health Minister, Dr James Reilly to safeguard the future of the hospital.
Patients from North Clare and South Galway are regularly referred to UCHG and Merlin Park for procedures such as colonoscopy, endoscopy, radiology and day-care surgery.
HSE West Forum member, Councillor Brian Meaney warned it would be an act of “certified lunacy” if any Clare patient was asked to travel a round trip of 290km for diagnostic or day-care procedures.
Councillor Meaney pointed out any benefits from the reorganisation of services between Galway and Roscommon would be eroded in increased travel costs if Clare patients have to travel to Roscommon.
The Green Party councillor had pledged to raise this issue at the next forum meeting in Galway to ensure Clare patients are excluded from the HSE’s reorganisation plans.
He said it would be wrong to expect any Mid-West patient to travel to Roscommon for “political expediency” or to appease local anger in Roscommon over the loss of around-the-clock emergency cover.
“There is no reason why diagnostic and day services can’t easily be provided in Ennis hospital. I am totally opposed to any proposal involving the need for Clare patients to travel to Roscommon for health services. There are too many questions over the viability of this proposal to make it a runner.
“The emphasis now has to be concentrated on ensuring the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick is properly funded and that new day services come on stream in Ennis hospital,” he said.
Retired psychiatric nurse, Councillor Joe Arkins described the proposal as unfair and impractical and said it would make far more sense to develop day services in Ennis to cater for all parts of the county and some parts of neighbouring counties.
While there is a natural tendency for some people in South-East Clare and Shannon to travel to Limerick hospital because it is closer than Ennis, Councillor Arkins said there is no reason why Ennis could not cater for increased day procedures.
Another HSE West Forum member, Councillor Tom McNamara stressed the new endoscopy unit, being built in Ennis, should be fully operational to cater for Clare patients who may have previously gone to Galway.
A HSE West spokeswoman confirmed the authority met the unions in Merlin Park recently as part of an ongoing series of meetings in relation to Roscommon County Hospital.
“At the meeting it was confirmed that we are developing proposals to expand the diagnostic capacity at Roscommon County Hospital, for example, endoscopies. It was agreed the HSE will give a further briefing to the unions on budgetary issues at the end of the month,” she said.
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation representative, Noreen Muldoon told The Clare Champion the issue of demographics, the exact catchment area and what precise new day services would be provided in Roscommon haven’t been finalised by the HSE yet. Ms Muldoon has pledged to seek clarification about where Clare patients, who previously used day facilities at Galway hospitals, will be treated in the event that the transfer of services between Galway and Roscommon proceeds as planned.
The HSE has stated in its 2011 Service Plan that the commissioning of the new endoscopy unit, enhanced bed capacity and development of dermatology services will be prioritised this year.
This plan also projected the number of day cases at UCHG and Merlin Park will increase from 63,060 in 2010 to 65,624 by the end of 2011, compared to a drop from 2,965 to 2,590 in day cases at Ennis hospital and a slight increase from 3,914 to 4,020 at Roscommon Hospital over the same period.