Up to 325 procedures covering surgery, out patient appointments and clinics in six acute Mid-West hospitals were cancelled on Tuesday as a result of the junior doctors’ strike.
The HSE has confirmed the cancellations affecting Clare patients were in the University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, Ennis Hospital, Croom Hospital, Nenagh Hospital.
According to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), Sunday cover plus an Intensive Care Unit ((ICU) registrar will be provided at University Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital and Nenagh Hospital on Tuesday.
“It is up to the hospital to make the necessary arrangements with regard to any
cancellations they feel are necessary.
“Chemotherapy services and dialysis will be protected. If further cover is needed over and above Sunday cover to ensure this then that will be provided,” said an IMO spokeswoman.
The Mid-West HSE has stated any patient whose operation, clinic appointment or service is affected is being contacted directly by phone. Any patient who doesn’t directly hear from the HSE are advised to present to the hospital as normal.
All appointments have been reviewed, theatre by theatre, clinic by clinic, today for all hospitals in the UL group – University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, Croom Hospital and St John’s Hospital.
Any patient appointment that has to be cancelled will be rescheduled.
Urgent care for areas such as oncology, dialysis and emergency will be provided. The Emergency Department in Dooradoyle and the local injuries units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s will remain open.
Acknowledging that the deal in tackling this issue is “unacceptable”, Minister of State Alex White said the junior doctors had a compelling case for action to be taken to address this issue.
“The issue is not whether we do this; it is when we do it and how quickly we do it. It has taken an unacceptably long time to address this issue,” he said.
Ends
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.