This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
AS CONSULTANTS at Ennis General Hospital prepared to put the finishing touches to a letter instructing Clare GPs to redirect all patients who may require a CAT scan to Limerick, Fianna Fáil announced that the vital diagnostic tool for Ennis had been signed off, much to the suspicion of the opposition.
Last night Senator Brendan Daly said that the HSE had been in discussions with the Mid-Western Hospitals Development Trust, which has already provided funding for the scanner.
He said that the HSE had now signed off on the installation of the instrument.
His fellow senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said he believed that the agreement was the result of intense lobbying.
But the Ennis General Hospital Development Committee met the announcement with some scepticism.
PRO of the group, Green Party Cllr Brian Meaney said he would take with a large bit of salt any assurance coming from politicians this close to an election.
He said he would not be satisfied until he saw the CAT scan in the hospital.
“We were given assurances that planning permission would be lodged for the hospital development in June and that still has not happened,” he said. Sources confirmed that consultants at the hospital had drafted a letter instructing GPs to direct any patient who “may” need a CAT scan directly to Limerick.
Currently only urgent cases at Ennis Hospital are considered for CAT scanning and these patients are transferred to Limerick by ambulance accompanied by a staff nurse and in some cases a consultant anaesthetist.
“It is estimated that 3,000 scans per annum are required at Ennis Hospital. However, due to lack of facilities, only approximately 1,000 patients receive a scan by transferring to Limerick,” according to Senator Dooley.
Earlier this year in an open letter, the consultants told Minister for Health Mary Harney that they were working in unsafe conditions.
It is believed that ongoing frustration with working conditions and the lack of a CAT scan had forced the consultants to consider such drastic action. Without a CAT scan the hospital is limited in what it can do especially for stroke victims and those presenting with head injuries. The diagnostic tool also speeds up the diagnosis of neck injuries and stomach problems. Meanwhile, the long awaited cost analysis for the first phase of the hospital extension is believed to be completed and has been sent to Dublin for approval.