This article is from page 8 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
ENNIS General Hospital’s consultants and the county’s GPs and psychiatrists are to present a united front on Health Service Executive (HSE) proposals to review acute services at Ennis General and in the Mid-West.
Arising from a meeting last week in Ennis amongst the three groups, Ennis Hospital consultant, John O’Dea confirmed to The Clare People yesterday that the three are to make a joint submission to the external review of the acute hospital services in Ennis.
He said, “Everyone is concerned that the issues that we raised two years ago have not been addressed, including the real safety issues at the hospital. The GPs and psychiatrists shared our frustration and there is no confidence that the many promises made for the future development of the hospital are going to happen.”
Dr O’Dea said that the three groups would produce a joint submission “as it was decided that the only way we can influence the future development of the hospital is in a joint, cohesive submission”.
West-clare based GP, Dr Tom Nolan said, “The ultimate decision on Ennis General Hospital is a political one. Professor Brendan Drumm said that the Hanly Report is the only show in town, but alternatives have been put forward by the consultants at Ennis General and the Bradley report.
“We don’t know what else Prof Drumm needs and we view with some suspicion the use to which this new independent review will be put. Is it a means of getting the politicians off the hook, that it might be a get out of jail report for the politicians?”
Dr O’Dea said that the attendance at the meeting was very good and that the GPs support the notion of Ennis remaining as a general rather than becoming a local hospital as defined in the Hanly report.