Hospital decision ‘reckless endangerment of life’ - Toole

Paul Murphy

Suggestions that a review of the planned closure of the emergency department at Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan has found that the closure should go ahead met with condemnation and protests at this week’s meeting of Meath County Council.

The planned closure was described as “reckless and dangerous” by Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy who said it would place the lives of Meath people at risk, and he implored councillors from Government parties to lobby the three Government ministers in Meath to halt the process.

The council at its September meeting had called for an expansion of the review to include the costs and benefits of retaining a safer and stronger accident and emergency department at the hospital.

A letter from Liam Woods, director Regional Health Areas in HSE to the county council was read to councillors by Cathaoirleach Cllr Nick Killian. It said that the terms of reference for the review of services at Navan had been determined by the board of HSE in consultation with the Minister for Health.

“This does not include the option of retaining the ED at Navan Hospital”, the letter said, “The intention is to replace the ED with a 24/7 medical assessment unit and also retain the local injuries unit. Some clinical services already bypass Navan with a view to ensuring the safe provision of clinical care to the people of the region.”

It said the hospital group was also looking at the range of possibilities of other services for the future that could be safely delivered and will assist in addressing access-to-care challenges in the region.

Cllr Killian said that the letter appeared to him to bypass the terms of reference for the review. “They have already made the decision but that’s the outline of it there”.

Cllr Fennessy said there was only one person with the power to overturn the decision and that was the Fianna Fail Minister for Health. “Political pressure needs to be brought to bear on the Minister and this outrageous decision reversed”

Independent Cllr Gillian Toole said: “This is extremely dangerous what is going on here. There are not enough GPs to deliver the current health service that is required in the county. They’re struggling to do their shifts with North East Doc on Call and how are they expected to provide the services for the Medical Assessment Unit? They have been warned, the TDs have been warned and the HSE executive have been warned. This is reckless endangerment of life”.

Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade said it appeared that the Minister had not listened to the views of Meath County councillors on the issue. “It is very sad for local democracy to see this downgrade. Councillors were told that a protest would be held outside the offices of the HS in Dublin on 13th October.

Aontu Cllr Emer Toibin said that some weeks ago at a protest meeting in the Newgrange Hotel local Minister Damien English said that he had had several meetings with the Minister for Health who had reassured him that option to keep Navan ED was factored into the review. “It’s pretty shocking to hear the letter from Liam Woods saying in very clear terms that there was never any consideration of keeping Navan A&E open. There is serious appetite and will on behalf of the people of Meath to keep it open.” The councillors are to write again to the Minister outlining their strong views on the subject.