‘Navan accepting very few patients by ambulance’ - Paramedic

Our Lady's Hospital is Navan is taking virtually no ambulance borne patients, according to a paramedic working in the area.

He says the hospital's emergency department (ED) seems reluctant to take ambulance cases, although there have been many transfers back to Navan from the ED in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

"Navan isn't really accepting patients from us at all. They seem to want to stop taking patients from us altogether. It was the same a few years ago in Dundalk," he said.

He said that patients are being sent back to Navan after been seen by consultants.

"If the consultant in Drogheda deems the case is minor enough, the patient will be set back to Navan.

"The patient is taken to the main hospital - Drogheda and when they figure out what the patient needs, they are sent to Navan or Dundalk for their care."

"The EDs are very busy and we have been very busy. Covid and flu cases are adding to the pressure."

He warned that things are likely to get worse as we haven't entered phase two of the flu yet.

He said the situation is very difficult for paramedics.

"We weren't consulted when they decided to bypass Navan, yet they expect us to make decisions on who goes where," he said.