Hse dismisses rumours of navan ed downgrade

Fears that Navan’s new ED department could be reduced to a 12 hour service within the next four months have been dismissed by the HSE.
Rumours that a downgrade is imminent have developed as a result of the lack of six month contracts for former agency registrars who work within A&E.
However a spokesperson for the HSE said that the four non consultant hospital doctors have been offered HSE contracts, which they have not yet accepted and so they continue on agency contracts.
“They have been offered HSE contracts and management are awaiting their reply to this offer.
“The new ED opened before Christmas as a 24 hour service.  We are not aware that there is any immediate plan to change this and we are working as always to provide a safe and efficient 24/7  ED service to the public,” said the spokesperson.
Cathaoirleach of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign, Deputy Peadar Tóibín has called on the Minister for Health to scotch rumours that the new A&E will be downgraded to a 12 hour service within the next four months and to give a cast iron guarantee that the 24 hour service will be in place for the lifetime of this government.
He said he has already put this question to senior management with the Ireland East region and he will lead a delegation of Save Navan Hospital Campaign to meet with the new CEO of the Ireland East group on the 29th of January to discuss the future of the A&E.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the plans of the HSE, the Department of Health and the government are to downgrade the A&E to a 12 hour service. There is no doubt in my mind either that this plan stems from budgetary objectives rather than health objectives. Fine Gael and Labour should be in no doubt either of the resolve of our campaign to ensure that this does not happen,” he said.
Cllr Wayne Forde said he was very concerned regarding the contracts for the four A &E registrars in Navan’s ED.
He claimed the four posts could “be pulled at anytime.”
He said he believed the HSE was “hellbent” on downgrading the ED.
He warned that as the Navan hospital is now in the Ireland East group, it will be much easier to downgrade Navan’s emergency department.
He said he wants to see Meath’s Fine Gael and Labour TDs fully supporting the 24/7 emergency department in  Navan.