This article is from page 4 of the 2006-01-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
MEMBERS of the Ennis General Hospital Development Committee say they remain concerned about the future of 24-hour A and E service at the hospital following a meeting with the HSE.
A week after the group nailed eight questions to the door of the authority’s regional head quarters in Limerick, a delegation met with John O Brien, HSE General Manager, and the Hospital Manager, John Doyle.
A spokesperson for the lobby group told The Clare People that Mr O’Brien was unable to answer the eight-point questionnaire presented to him, to the group’s satisfaction.
They also did not receive a satisfactory answer as to what was HSE policy.
Mr O’Brien did say he was hopeful that a planning application would be made next March for the proposed hospital upgrading.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney, refused to provide guarantees over the services at Ennis General Hospital, when questioned in the Dáil this week.
The Tánaiste faced nine separate questions — eight from Pat Breen TD (FG) — over the future of services at the hospital.
He asked if the hospital would retain a 24-hour, seven-day, consultant-led accident and emergency service, if the Hanly report was still Government policy and if the Hanly Report, as it related to Ennis General Hospital, was still Government policy.
In response to the question on A&E services, the Tánaiste said that the re-organisation of regional hospital services under the Hanly report was a task for the Health Service Executive.
However, she said that the government was, “committed to supporting and developing critical services, including key areas such as accident and emergency services in hospitals, which should open in line with patient need.”
She said that there was “substantial scope” for increasing the services provided in many hospitals such as Ennis.
“We need to harness the potential of every acute hospital to provide the best possible service to the local community.
“We are committed to developing facilities at Ennis General Hospital under the first phase of the capital developments proposed, which will include new and upgraded facilities in ward areas, radiology, accident and emergency, and outpatients.”