Republican News · Thursday 9 January 2003

Health Minister must act on A&E closures threat

The Minister for Health and Children Mícheál Martin has been urged to act to avert the closure of Accident and Emergency units throughout the State following the coming into effect of new training rules imposed by the College of Surgeons. Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin TD said this latest development "could see more hospitals go the way of Monaghan".

Ó Caoláin said: "Changes in training rules now being implemented by the College of Surgeons, as signalled by the Irish Medical Organisation, have been in the offing for a long time. Yet the Minister for Health and Children Micheál Martin has not acted to ensure that all existing Accident and Emergency services are maintained. On the contrary he has presided over a situation where in Monaghan the hospital has been off call for the past six months with accident and emergency cases being diverted to Cavan and Drogheda. As I predicted, the downgrading of Monaghan General Hospital is now being used as a template to cut services in other hospitals around the 26 Counties.

"This is part of the drive towards centralisation and will cause real hardship to communities who depend on their hospitals. The removal of specialties to centralised locations within the regions is one thing but the threat to reduce the number of accident and emergency units is quite another and a very dangerous development.

"The College of Surgeons and the Irish Medical Organisation are saying that more A and E consultants are required to meet the new training rules, to ensure standards and to avoid medical litigation. We need to know if the Minister agree with this assessment and if so why have the necessary appointments not been made. If the Minister does not agree with the assessment then what action will he take to ensure that existing A and E units are not closed or curtailed?

"Minister Martin must act to avert what could be a devastating blow to A and E services throughout the State. He is the responsible Minister and he cannot hide behind the professional bodies or the health boards."