Politicians asked to back region over party whip on health crisis

CLARE’S Dáil and Seanad members have been urged to back the re-opening of the region’s smaller Emergency Departments, even if it means going against the wishes of their parties.

Normal business of this week’s meeting of Clare County Council was deferred for a time to discuss an emergency motion on the ED crisis. On behalf of Fine Gael, Councillor Joe Cooney proposed the urgent motion in light of the “ongoing crisis” at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

He called on on the HSE and the Minister for Health “to immediately open Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s as full Accident and Emergency Departments on a full-time basis, 24 hours, seven days a week”. “We call on all Oireachtas members in the Midwest region to support and work for same,” he said. 

Councillor Mary Howard, a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, urged Oireachtas members to implement the motion, even if it meant losing the party whip. 

“Today there are 489 people waiting on trolleys nationally,” the Fine Gael member outlined. “We have 29 Emergency Departments and 10% of those people are in Limerick today.” She outlined promises made when the three smaller EDs were closed as part of reconfiguration in the Midwest. 

“In reconfiguration we were promised a centre of excellence instead we what has been described by patients as a war zone,” she said.

“We were promised a safe facility. We got corridors crowded with very sick patients waiting on trolleys we were promised peace of mind. All we got was heartbreak and upset. We were promised 676 beds. 14 years later we only have 530. The ED in Limerick was built to be used by 70,000 patients in fact has been used by almost 80,000, while the waiting list for surgery and other therapies are much much many more 1000s That’s all for a population 400,000 We have only one emergency department.’

Councillor Howard also thanked staff for their work in intolerable conditions and paid tribute to Miltown’s Liam O’Brien and Kilkishen’s Danny Moloney, who spoke publicly about their experiences as patients in the UHL ED in recent weeks.

The change in protocol for the Ambulance Service in the Midwest, whereby they can send patients to Ennis for emergency treatment, where appropriate, was also welcomed. 

“We’re appealing to our Oireachtas members to fight for their constituents, even if it means losing the party whip,” Councillor Howard said. “We’ve waited too long and now’s the time for you to stand together.”

Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn told the meeting the current model of healthcare has failed the public.

“When you look at the response from a recent poll, saying that people have lost confidence in the health services, and they would only attend if it’s a life and death situation. I think that says it all,” he said. “I think it is a sad indictment of a number of governments. It’s not just one government, but a number of governments and how they have handled the health services for people in serious need.”

Fianna Fáil’s Councillor Bill Chambers, another of Clare’s four members of the regional health forum, said: “Nothing could be can be doing unless we stand together as a people and  work together to put pressure on the powers that be.”

Cathaoirleach Councillor Tony O’Brien described the overcrowding situation at the region’s main ED as “criminal”. “What is happening at UHL at present and cannot be tolerated and should not be tolerated in a civilised society,” he said, stressing that support for the motion was unanimous. 

Councillor Ann Norton said it was time for Clare’s 28 councillors to join forces with those in Limerick and Tipperary, as well as the Oireachtas members of these constituencies. “I think it’s time that we joined forces to try and alleviate the issue,” she said. “We seem to be going nowhere and this has been going on for many, many years.”

Councillor Cillian Murphy of the regional health forum welcomed the first day of the new protocol allowing ambulances to take some patients to Ennis General Hospital, describing it as “a step change”.

“What needs to be done now is for our Oireachtas members across the Midwest to push hard that that protocol is widened to allow patients to be brought to the Local Injuries Unit,” he said. “Also, and most importantly, is that our Oireachtas members are pushing very hard that the MAU [Medical Assessment Unit] is open 24/7. And as is the Local Injuries unit. If we want to ease the pressure on the ED, we need to make sure that everything is thrown, including the kitchen sink.”

Councillor Pat Daly described reconfiguration as “a major mistake” for the Midwest, while Councillor Liam Grant, another member of the regional health forum, said it was vital to get Ennis General upgraded to a Model Three facility. He also said there was a need to education members of the public about when to call an ambulance. 

Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy said it was clear that healthcare in the region was “not first world”. “What is positive, I suppose is this we finally have had a high ranking HSE official acknowledge that it is probably a mistake what happened back in 2009, with the reconfiguration,” she said. 

Councillor Johnny Flynn called for the ambulance protocol to be extended and described the situation in UHL’s ED as “moving deck chairs on the Titanic”. 

Councillors PJ Kelly and Donna McGettigan also spoke in support of the motion which will now be sent to the local authorities in Limerick and Tipperary.