Junior doctor shortage affects Limerick hospital

THE Mid-West Health Service Executive has advised Clare patients to seek medical attention where possible from their GP or pharmacist, due to staffing shortages at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick.
The national shortage of non-consultant hospital doctors has impacted on the emergency department in the region’s flagship hospital, where one registrar and three senior house officer posts are unfilled.
While the HSE continues to actively recruit suitably qualified doctors for these posts, it is likely that, in the short term, these vacancies will affect the ability of the emergency department to deliver the same level of service as previously.
The authority is also keeping the situation at emergency centres in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals under constant review. It has asked patients to seek medical attention through other means, such as their GP or pharmacist where possible.
Deputy Pat Breen expressed fears a few weeks ago that Ennis hospital may be one of the worst hit by the chronic shortage of non-consultant hospital doctors this summer, following the revelation that about 140 posts were not filled in January.
The HSE has also been preparing for a further drop in numbers when junior doctors started their new rotations this month.
HSE regional co-ordinator of acute services, Chris Kane told a recent HSE West Forum meeting that the authority is working with all hospitals to ensure essential services would be 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.