An Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District. Councillor Rita McInerney (FF), has raised concerns over health services accessibility in West Clare, and has highlighted critical issues that she says need urgent attention including what she sees as the limited hours of operation of the Small Injuries Clinic.
Cllr Rita McInerney, who is a member of the Regional Health Forum has voiced concerns about the accessibility and availability of health services for residents in West Clare. At the recent Regional Health Forum meeting held on Tuesday, July 16, Cllr McInerney’s inquiries regarding the Ennis Small Injuries Clinic and ShannonDoc services highlighted critical issues that need urgent attention.
In relation to limited hours at the Ennis Injury Unit, Cllr McInerney questioned the Health Service Executive (HSE) about the timeline for extending the operating hours of the Ennis Small Injuries Clinic from 8am to midnight. The HSE’s response revealed no current plans to extend these hours, citing a national review in 2023 that recommended standardising the hours of injury units nationwide to 8am – 8pm. The Ennis Injury Unit currently operates daily from 8am to 8 pm.
There are no plans to extend operating hours beyond 8pm. The unit saw a 6% increase in attendances in 2023 compared to 2022 and a 40% increase since 2019.
Cllr McInerney emphasised that the clinic’s limited hours of operation leave a significant gap in service availability for West Clare residents, particularly those needing urgent care outside these hours. In particular, she emphasised that many injuries take place in the evening time, especially when both children and adults are involved in sport in community settings or work and recreation in the home.
Cllr McInerney also has inquired about the availability of ShannonDoc services in West Clare.
The HSE detailed the current structure in County Clare where ShannonDoc provides urgent out-of-hours medical services with the Ennis Core Centre operating from 6pm to 8am on weekdays, with 24-hour coverage over weekends and public holidays. There are also satellite centres in Shannon, Miltown Malbay, Kilrush and Ennistymon operating with varying hours, often with no doctor on site. Specifically, Cllr McInerney is concerned at the limited times for both Ennistymon and Kilrush centres of 9am to 7pm on Weekends and Public Holidays only.
Despite the comprehensive structure, Cllr McInerney highlighted the issue of distance as there is a geographical barrier for people particularly those living in the Loophead Peninsula. She emphasised the point that while there is extended hours of operation at the satellite service in Miltown Malbay, many patients will choose to go directly to Ennis in case they are referred onto Limerick University Hospital depending on the seriousness of the situation, particularly in cases involving children.
The Doonbeg councillor has also called for improved services overall saying, “The current health service provisions for West Clare residents are inadequate and create barriers to timely and accessible medical care. We need extended hours at the Ennis Injury Unit and more localised ShannonDoc services. It’s essential to address these gaps to ensure equitable health care access for all residents of West Clare”
Cllr McInerney has urged the HSE to reconsider their stance on extending the Ennis injury unit’s hours and to enhance the operational capacity and presence of ShannonDoc services in West Clare.
“These changes are critical to improving the overall healthcare landscape for the community,” she said.
Sharon Dolan D’Arcy covers West Clare news. After completing a masters in journalism at University of Galway, Sharon worked as a court reporter at the Sligo Weekender. She was also editor of the Athenry News and Views.