Ennis may be hit by doctor shortage – Breen

A SHORTAGE of non-consultant doctors could affect Ennis hospital this summer.

The prospect of reduced accident and emergency services in Ennis was raised by Deputy Pat Breen this week following the revelation that up to 140 non-consultant hospital doctor posts were not filled in January.
It also emerged that the Health Service Executive (HSE) is preparing for a further drop in numbers in July when doctors begin new rotations.
Deputy Breen warned that A&E services in the Mid-West are coming under pressure. “Small hospitals could face having their hours of operations further reduced with further budgetary cutbacks being discussed. The hours of operation at Ennis hospital were already cut back following reconfiguration in the Mid-West and my fear is that if latest reports are accurate, then further pain could be inflicted on smaller hospitals like Ennis,” he said.
The issue was also raised by councillors at a HSE West Hospital Committee meeting in Galway on Tuesday, when Councillor Laurence Fallon sought assurances that smaller hospitals would be protected from any reduction in services due to a possible lack of non-consultant hospital doctors.
Councillor Fallon claimed the HSE is now only offering a six-month visa to overseas non-consultant doctors to work in Ireland, compared to the previous offer of up to two years.
However, HSE regional co-ordinator of acute services, Chris Kane, explained the authority could not give assurances at this time until it establishes what the staffing position is in all hospitals closer to July.
Ms Kane said the authority is working with all hospitals to ensure essential services are maintained and noted it is anxious to achieve more long-term solutions, such as an increase in the number of consultants working in accident and emergency departments.
In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, the Mid-West HSE stressed patient safety is of paramount concern across the hospital system.
“The HSE is fully aware of the staffing situations in hospital emergency departments (EDs) in some parts of the country. A recruitment drive for a new intake of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) is underway and a number of other initiatives are being considered to specifically address the situation to ensure that hospital EDs continue to offer a high level of care to all patients.
“It is too early to say which hospitals and what parts of the country might be affected. We are aware there is a shortage of NCHDs. The expectation would be come July 1, that we may see a further reduction and obviously there would be consequences of that. Yes, some services may need to be reconfigured, but it is too early to speculate,” the HSE spokeswoman said.